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From: corwin@hope.UUCP (John Kempf)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Dysan spheres...
Message-ID: <202@hope.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Mar-86 00:16:27 EST
Article-I.D.: hope.202
Posted: Wed Mar 26 00:16:27 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 31-Mar-86 08:27:08 EST
References: <200@hope.UUCP> <201@hope.UUCP>
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Organization: University of California, Riverside
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to my earlier posting, chris responds...
> They would most probably utilize the mass of the planets of their system
> to build the sphere, demolizing their own planet last. To the outside 
> observer, I doubt at this distance, it would radiate enough energy to
> make it visible AT ALL...they are quite efficient.
> 
Consider the mass in a typical solar system, say Sol.  (No, I don't 
know if it is typical, having not yet taken a vacation on Arcturis 
yet...)  Not including the sun, you have a mass on the order of
3.5E30 g.  To make a Dysan sphere, you need to cover a surface area 
of about 8.5264E22 m^2.  This comes out to something on the order
of a shell 10 metres thick. (depending on mateials used, assuming
that transmutation is both possible, and doesn't use up any mass)
Unless there is some way of converting one element into another,
WITHOUT using up any mass, we run out of mass.  Most of the universe
is hydrogen, not steel.

As far as radiating, not after it is finnished, but while it is being
made.
-cory