SPACEMEN MAY COMMUNICATE WITH GAMMA RAYS
Hugh Hood · Electronics (U.S.) · 1962
The practicality of gamma ray communication systems for space is discussed. The speculation comes from the fact that higher frequencies are needed for communication and gamma ray frequencies reach l0/sup 13/ Mc. The systems, using by-product gammas from nuclear reactors, would be jam-proof. Because gammas are heavily scattered and absorbed in the atrmosphere, their direct use would be limited to outer space. If one chops the gammas, it is possible to transmit low-quality talk at 3 kc for distances up to l0000 miles and Morse code at l cps up to one million miles with typical nuclear reactors of l00 kw power. A simplified description of such a system is described. (N.W.R.)