The earths magnetic field shields earth from comic rays.
Can a Magnetic field shield against nuclear radiation?
​
is there a difference between comic rays and nuclear radiation?
In: 0
[removed]
The magnetosphere is tens of thousands of kilometers thick, and it only stops *some* cosmic rays, while others still make it through.
So if you want to be shielded from radiation, simple lead shielding is probably more efficient.
No, not really. Ionizing radiation consists of charged particles (alpha, beta) and uncharged (gamma, x-rays, neutrons). Uncharged particles are not effected by magnetic fields. A magnetic field can attract or repel a beta or alpha particle but not both due to their opposite charges. Further, charged particle interactions within the magnetic field can cause secondary ionizations yielding bremmstrahlung radiation and other x-rays that could escape the field.
Sure, magnetic field may affect movement of charged particles i.e. atomic nuclei or electrons which constitute alpha and beta radiation. There have even been studies that propose active magnetic shielding for spacecraft that will go on Mars mission and further.
But. There always is a but. Magnetic fields do not in anyway affect high-energy photons of gamma radiation. So hiding behind something is still better.
Also, the safety of prolonged exposure to these ‘active magnetic shielding devices is still to be studied.
Add: there is a difference between cosmic rays and radiation. Nuclear radiation is comprised of three particle types: alpha, beta and gamma, which are helium nuclei, electrons(positrons) and photons. These particles are emitted when atoms decay.
Cosmic rays, however are mostly ions that are emitted from our sun or other stars coronae. Ions are atoms that lose some or all of their electrons. But cosmic rays consist mostly of hydrogen and helium nuclei.
Some types yes, but not all
The important bit here is that when a charged particle passes through a magnetic field its course gets curved
Some radiation is made of charged particles, but not all. Cosmic rays are high energy protons (positively charged), alpha radiation is a high speed helium atom with no electrons (positively charged), and beta radiation is a high speed electron (negatively charged). All three of these can be diverted by magnetic fields.
Gamma rays are one of the big concerns for nuclear radiation and they’re just photons with no charge, you can’t divert them just put something dense in the way to absorb them. Things containing the radioactive elements also have to worry about neutron radiation which is a high speed neutron that shoots out but since its a neutron it doesn’t have a charge and doesn’t care about magnetic fields.
For most of the radiation that we’re really worried about (gamma rays) magnetic fields will have no effect. We’re not particularly worried about alpha and beta particles because you can stop them with a sheet of aluminum foil reliably so magnetic shielding is a bit excessive
Yes, with a major but.
Nuclear radiation comes in several different flavours: alpha & beta, which are chunks of partial atoms and gamma which is electromagnetic. Functionally, Cosmic Rays are like alpha & beta radiation, partial chunks of atoms flying around the universe of extremely high speeds.
Alpha, Beta and Cosmic Rays have an electrical charge, so they can be deflected using the magnetic field, but they are extremely high energy and would require a massive electromagnetic field to provide protection. The reason that Earth’s electromagnetic field is effective at block cosmic rays is because it’s giant, drawing it’s power from the iron in the Earth’s molten core. It’s literally planet sized.
Gamma Rays are just electromagnetic radiation, so they can be interfered with by other electromagnetic fields, but generating a field capable of doing so is problematic. Gamma rays have a frequency small enough to screw with the function of cells in your body, so any field that would interfere with them would be able to do the same thing. It’s not a good idea.
Generally speaking, matter is a lot more effective at blocking radiation than electromagnetic fields.
Latest Answers