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From: @S1-A.ARPA,@MIT-MC.ARPA:DIETZ@RUTGERS.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: solar wind power
Message-ID: <2555@mordor.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Jul-85 12:23:54 EDT
Article-I.D.: mordor.2555
Posted: Mon Jul  8 12:23:54 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 12-Jul-85 00:25:52 EDT
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From: DIETZ@RUTGERS.ARPA


Looking in the encyclopedia britanica, I get a power level of from .1 to
1 milliwatt per meter^2 (1 to 10 protons per cm^3 at ~500 km/sec), or
roughly 10^-7 to 10^-6 x the intensity of sunlight.  Generating magnetic
fields over sufficiently large areas to make this practical seems
unlikely, unless the Earth's field is used.

The Earth's field may be used as follows: because the solar wind is so
highly conductive, it effectively excludes the earth's magnetic field.
What happens is the boundary layer of the plasma has a current ciculating
so as to neutralize the field at larger distances.  We can tap this
current by stretching a cable from one side of the field to the other
behind the earth.  Current is collected at the ends through some sort of
plasma and/or electron guns (no extensive wire mesh is needed).  Even
at 10^-7 x sunlight intensity this is still ~5 terawatts.

This scheme may significantly modify the earth's magnetosphere.  If so,
pulsed operation may dump the Van Allen belts, reducing radiation hazards
in intermediate orbits.
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