[ExI] Novel off-planet energy idea

[Tom Nowell]

Currently the most read article on newscientist.com

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn19497-outofthisworld-proposal-for-solar-wind-power.html

and here's an abstract from an astrobiology meeting

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/abscicon2010/pdf/5469.pdf

does anyone know enough astrophysics to guide us armchair space enthusiasts through back-of-the-envelope calculations?

Tom