Energy shield

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The energy shield (also force field , protective screen or protective shield ) is a term mostly used in science fiction that describes a barrier made of energy, which, for example , is supposed to protect a spaceship from radiation weapons , cosmic rays , space dust or meteorites . So far, the energy shield has been a fictitious matter due to the state of the art, but it appears in principle conceivable. Accordingly, the term appears in many science fiction authors and inspires scientists in research.

Energy shields in literature and film

Force fields appear in Star Trek , Star Wars , Stargate , Babylon 5 and Independence Day , among others . An early example in German science fiction is the series of magazines Perry Rhodan , Volume 3 of which, The Radiant Dome , was published in September 1961. In the novels Dune by Frank Herbert force fields serve as motivation for a renaissance of sword fighting, as they fend off there only fast projectiles, but not slowly guided sword blows.

Examples of applications of force fields are:

  • Barriers that enclose an atmosphere in an area of ​​space.
  • Quarantine measures that prevent the spread of a source of danger (e.g. poison gas) in an emergency.
  • Energy shields to protect a person, spaceship, or planet from damage from natural sources such as radiation, or from enemy attacks.
  • Doors of prison cells.

Energy shields in science

Up until now it was assumed that the energy required to operate such a shield would have to be very high. According to the latest research on behalf of NASA , however, it could come to a real application in manned space travel . As part of a manned Mars mission , space travelers must be protected from cosmic rays. A plasma bubble should surround the spaceship and use its magnetic field to ensure that the crew of future spaceships will be protected from cosmic space radiation. This would save the need for conventional radiation protection, which is several centimeters thick and heavy.

In a first development step, simple electromagnetic defense fields that can repel charged particles would also be conceivable, but not yet impact fields that are impenetrable for all matter and energy.

The natural radiation protection shield of the earth works similarly to the protective shield designed by NASA , which is maintained by the natural magnetic field (see also magnetosphere ) on the one hand and by the particle flow of the sun (see also solar wind ) on the other.

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  1. ↑ Memory-alpha Wiki , Force Fields in the Star Trek Universe
  2. ↑ The shining dome in the Perrypedia
  3. ↑ Safe and protected in the plasma bubble Article by Ilka Lehnen-Beyel on www.wissenschaft.de (July 19, 2006).

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