Researchers Working On New Tractor Beam Method

[Tom Goldman]

Researchers Working On New Tractor Beam Method

Research indicates that the tractor beam could become a reality on a small scale.

Researchers from Hong Kong and China are looking into a laser called the Bessel beam to potentially make it work like the tractor beams we see in properties such as Spaceballs [http://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Next-Generation-Complete/dp/B000RZIGVS/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1299464425&sr=1-1]. If the Bessel beam pans out, we'll be towing junk around the universe in no time.

Okay, so maybe we won't be doing that until we're actually able to build a space fleet, but the Bessel beam could theoretically exhibit the properties of a tractor beam on a small scale. Right now the Bessel beam can probably only drag a single particle to its source.

The technique being researched is all about imposing a "backward scattering force" through the "simultaneous excitation of multipoles in a particle." A Bessel beam can reportedly reconstruct itself on the far side of an object it hits, and the energy inside of the beam can push a particle from the opposite end toward the beam's origin.

The technique adds "pulling" to previous efforts that have proven particles can be optically manipulated. This research is apparently still new, and needs to be demonstrated, but the desired result is possible. Now if we could only get that space fleet in order.

Source: Arxiv [http://io9.com/#!5776003/could-we-be-on-the-verge-of-inventing-tractor-beams]


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[Quiet Stranger]

I've always wondered how this works anyways, is it gravity or something? Maybe magnets, how does that work?

 

[Sandytimeman]

Man, I was born 100 years too early. My Great Grandkid is gunna get to blast around the solar system in a space shuttle! Oh course he will still have to call home for a Tractor Beam Wrecker when he breaks down in the asteroid belt.

 

[cairocat]

You guys are days late on anything slightly mainstream these days. Seriously, if you're going to come after other sites at least be sort of timely about it.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

This is like in Red Alert 3 how the Soviets use a sattelite to pick up tanks then drop them on the enemy.

This could be a cheap means of getting stuff in to space.

 

[Roboto]

This reminds me of the old "Science!" Columns. What happened to those?

 

[Tiger Sora]

Well alot of good a tractor beam will do when the enemy fires it's lazores!
Though I still want one, prepare the tractor beams for pranks people.

 

[The_Healer]

I'm going to put one in my mouth...

Cutlery is so last millennium.

 

[Jamous]

I cannot wait. Shit gonna be epic. Assuming I survive long enough for it to become so. :/

 

[Thaluikhain]

This is like in Red Alert 3 how the Soviets use a sattelite to pick up tanks then drop them on the enemy.

This could be a cheap means of getting stuff in to space.

Could be, but then any new method of moving things "could be" cheaper than current methods for all we know.

One problem that is never addressed, though, is conservation of momentum. You pull something towards you, it pulls you towards it.

 

[rsvp42]

This is really interesting. I wonder if this is even scalable up to useful sized-objects. Let's hope the principle and power of the technique aren't ultimately limited to individual particles on a small scale.

 

[Cid Silverwing]

I thought tractor beams operated on, what was it called, gravitron physics? Manipulating gravity fields to pull and push objects?

 

[Halceon]

This is like in Red Alert 3 how the Soviets use a sattelite to pick up tanks then drop them on the enemy.

This could be a cheap means of getting stuff in to space.

Definitely not. A satellite that can generate the necessary strength of the beam will be a lot less cost-effective than a space elevator.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Spaceballs [http://www.amazon.com/Spaceballs-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo-Brooks/dp/B001UN1KVE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1299464395&sr=8-2]

Haha, you said balls

Sorry I got distracted, seems like a neat idea, wonder if it actually works beyond the idea stage.

 

[GLo Jones]

Casual Spaceballs references ftw!

OT: I can't see this being useful for anything other than physics experiments.

 

[Aedrial]

I've always wondered how this works anyways, is it gravity or something? Maybe magnets, how does that work?

Yes, how do magnets work?

 

[Unrulyhandbag]

I thought tractor beams operated on, what was it called, gravitron physics? Manipulating gravity fields to pull and push objects?

It depends what you read\watch\play

Star trek tells us they work on 'Subspace interference patterns'. So that would be by bending space and then pushing it under the object. Dead spaces mining system uses gravitons to lift rocks.

Given that it's generally believed gravitons could not be directly detected and no-one can think of a way to indirectly manipulate them IF they exist Shooting things with a laser that sort of works backwards makes more sense for now.