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PRODID:UW-Madison-Physics-Events
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SEQUENCE:0
UID:UW-Physics-Event-4838
DTSTART:20180503T203000Z
DTEND:20180503T220000Z
DTSTAMP:20260418T224342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20180430T141615Z
LOCATION:4421 Sterling Hall\, Coffee and Cookies 3:30 PM\, Talk begins
  at 3:45 PM
SUMMARY:Can we send relativistic-speed nanocrafts to nearby exoplanets
 ? Challenges and Solutions?\, Astronomy Colloquium\, Thiem Hoang\, Uni
 versity of Toronto
DESCRIPTION:The Breakthrough Starshot initiative aims to launch gram-s
 cale spacecraft to relativistic speeds of v ~ 0.2 c\, capable of reach
 ing the closest Earth-like exoplanet\, Proxima b\, in 20 years. One of
  the most critical challenges facing this ambitious project originates
  from the interactions of relativistic nanocrafts with the interstella
 r medium during its journey to Proxima b. In this talk\, I will first 
 present our quantitative evaluation of the damage to a relativistic na
 nocraft by interstellar gas and dust. Second\, I will discuss the defl
 ection and oscillation of a charged nanocraft due to the interstellar 
 magnetic field. Third\, I will discuss the gas drag force at high ener
 gy regime and quantify its effect on the deceleration of a relativisti
 c lightsail. Finally\, I will discuss practical strategies to mitigate
  the impacts of the interstellar medium\, and to control the nanocraft
  attitude in order for the spacecraft to reach an intended exoplanet.
URL:https://www.physics.wisc.edu/events/?id=4838
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