General Question  Nullo's avatar  Would it be possible to
convert our assorted cyclotrons, linear accelerators and
particle colliders to emit a directable stream of particles?
Asked by Nullo (21763 points ) August 23rd, 2012  A ponderance
brought on by a Star Trek overdose. Suitable for propelling
light sails, perhaps, or moving/destroying orbital debris.
Perhaps with something to clear the air molecules out of the way
first – lasers, perhaps?  Observing members: 0 Composing
members: 0  10 Answers  dabbler's avatar  Hmm, actually
converting existing accelerators? That sounds highly
impractical. However there are nuke-powered ion-propulsion
drives designed to do just that, toss particles out the back end
at extreme speeds, exchanging momentum with the spacecraft
(acceleration).  “Propelling light sails” ... but the light
sails are a propulsion system themselves. They catch solar wind.
If you direct a beam from a spacecraft onto light sails on the
same craft I don’t think you’ll have a net gain of momentum.  N