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From: throopw@dg_rtp.UUCP (Wayne Throop)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.sci
Subject: Ingition!
Message-ID: <330@dg_rtp.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 3-May-86 16:33:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: dg_rtp.330
Posted: Sat May  3 16:33:19 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 5-May-86 21:01:36 EDT
References: <358@drutx.UUCP> <1063@whuxl.UUCP> <2384@jhunix.UUCP> <708@whuts.UUCP> <13439@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <208@gilbbs.UUCP>
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Xref: lsuc net.politics:5170 net.sci:535

> gilbbs!apn
>> brahms!desj
>>> ccird2!rb
>>>> [???]

>>>>thousand pounds of plutonium.

>>>There are lots of other things to worry about....  Things like possible
>>>ignition of water vapor in the atmosphere....

>>   Water vapor is the *product* of combustion.  How could it be "ignited"??

>     I  believe here we are talking about the fusion meaning of ignition.
>     Consider water vaper("") in a highly dissociated state, and furthermore
>     examine only one of many possible reactions:
>
>       1     4      0
>     4( H) >  He +2( e)  + 24.7 MeV
>       1     2      1  

Uh... you are worried about proton-proton fusion?  Last I heard, that
doesn't even happen much at solar core conditions.  Far be it from me to
say that there wouldn't be unpleasant effects from nuclear war, possibly
even involving the extinction of humanity, but I don't think a
self-sustaining proton-proton fusion reaction on Earth is something to
worry about.  Nor even in the top million things to worry about.

>     It is already known that this can be thermodynamically triggered, If 
>   this reaction is self sustaining, ( i.e. large cross-section) then
>   we could be in lots of trouble.  It should give Sol some competition, at
>   least in this planetery system.

I also think you seriously underestimate how puny the Earth is in
relation to the Sun.  "The solar system consists of the Sun, Jupiter,
and assorted debris".
-- 
Wayne Throop      <the-known-world>!mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!throopw