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Thoughts on Solar Ionization Reactors.

Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2019 9:25 pm
by Khas
Okay, as we've seen in various Star Wars books, video games, and other media, vessels in SW often use a type of power called "solar ionization". But what IS this "solar ionization"? And how can we reconcile it with what "Solo" showed us - that SW ships tend to have fusion cores as their main power supply? Not to mention all that liquid fuel we see going into starships (which is what formed the basis of Jedi Master Spock's old "diesel fusion" theory).



Well, it seems I've found a solution that could answer all these problems. Behold, CNO Fusion!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNO_cycle

Re: Thoughts on Solar Ionization Reactors.

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 4:17 pm
by Praeothmin
But why could it not be "P-P fusion"?

Re: Thoughts on Solar Ionization Reactors.

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 7:06 pm
by Khas
Well, that's normally just referred to as just "fusion".... and I was looking for a reason as to why there would be a different name.

Re: Thoughts on Solar Ionization Reactors.

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 8:58 pm
by Praeothmin
Because Star Wars?

I mean, why are Lightsabres not called "Magnetically contained Plasma Swords"... :)

Re: Thoughts on Solar Ionization Reactors.

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:39 pm
by Khas
Well, "lightsaber" is infinitely easier to say than "Magnetically-contained Plasma Sword". ;)

Also, I wanted to find a way to reconcile everything we saw throughout the franchise regarding power generation, and this was the easiest way I could do it.

Re: Thoughts on Solar Ionization Reactors.

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 4:17 am
by 2046
Solar = fusion
Ionization = the technique by which they're drawing power from the fusion.

By that logic, a hydroelectric dam could be a gravity dynamo (a term which has the advantage of not being so water-specific).

Done.

Re: Thoughts on Solar Ionization Reactors.

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2019 8:02 am
by 359
I agree with 2046, it's likely fusion, but not our typical steam turbine dynamo (again as above).
This seems supported by the Clone Wars line:

TCW: "Death Trap":
"What reaction propels the main engines of the Jedi Cruiser"
"post-combined[(?)poles combine] sparking off the reactor core rods, sir."


Although what that actually means is unclear, perhaps the reactor core rods emit particles which are channeled aft using magnetic poles, akin to a VASIMR type design. In any case, I think it's safe to say it's not your "typical" Tokamak-style reactor design seen elsewhere in fiction.