© 2004 Robert A. Freitas Jr. and Ralph C. Merkle. All Rights Reserved.

Robert A. Freitas Jr., Ralph C. Merkle, Kinematic Self-Replicating Machines, Landes Bioscience, Georgetown, TX, 2004.

B.4.4.6 Shock Wave Formation

Shock waves most easily form in liquids having low attenuation but require macroscale path lengths much longer than the anticipated reaction chamber size L_chamber ~ 2 microns and may also require higher pulse pressures than the ~3 atm envisioned in the molecular assembler design (Section B.4.2). For example, a 3-MHz 10-atm pulse shows a shock waveform only after passing through 5 cm of water at room temperature [3258].

Last updated on 13 August 2005