[ExI] Beamed Propulsion Could Push Us to Proxima Centauri?

[BillK]

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Andy Tomaswick
A Concentrated Beam of Particles and Photons Could Push Us to Proxima Centauri
<https://www.universetoday.com/167668/a-concentrated-beam-of-particles-and-photons-could-push-us-to-proxima-centauri/>
Quote:
Recently, optics research has developed a way of combining particle
and laser beams that all but eliminates diffraction and beam spreading
when both are used simultaneously. This would allow a beamed
propulsion system to continue concentrating its beam on exactly the
right place without slowly losing its pushing force as the probe gets
further away.
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This article struck me as being very speculative.
I could see a couple of possible problems immediately.
So I asked a couple of AIs to discuss it.
They surprised me by appearing to understand the issues and then even
proposed solutions.
The full discussion was really interesting.  :)
(No wonder people are happy to discuss their relationship difficulties
with therapy AIs)!
BillK

Here are some extracts from the Gemma 2 AI -

Challenges:
Energy Requirements: Generating a beam powerful enough to accelerate a
spacecraft to such speeds would require an immense amount of energy.
Focusing the Beam: Maintaining a focused beam over interstellar
distances would be incredibly challenging due to atmospheric
distortion and the vast distances involved.
Sail Technology: Developing a sail material that is both lightweight
and durable enough to withstand the intense forces of the beam is a
major technological hurdle.

You're absolutely right. Focusing a beam over interstellar distances
onto a tiny, fast-moving object with a response time of years is an
incredibly daunting challenge.

Challenges:
Atmospheric Distortion: Earth's atmosphere distorts light and would
significantly scatter a laser beam, making it difficult to maintain
focus. This would require a space-based laser array, adding to the
complexity and cost.
Beam Divergence: Even in space, laser beams naturally spread out over
long distances. Keeping the beam focused on a tiny target moving at
relativistic speeds would require extremely precise aiming and
potentially adaptive optics to compensate for any deviations.
Target Tracking: Accurately tracking the tiny spacecraft over
interstellar distances and adjusting the beam accordingly would be a
monumental task.
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