Nuclear Damper

Nuclear Dampers are passive defensive devices which create an interference field in which the strong nuclear force can be manipulated. A series of nodes and anti-nodes are created, either to enhance or degrade the strong nuclear force. Manipulation of nuclear forces can render nuclear weapons fundamentally inert.

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Please see the following AAB articles for more information:

• Technology
  • Nuclear Damper
  • Damper Box

Description (Specifications)

Focusing a negative node on incoming nuclear warheads lowers the potential barriers around nuclei, thus suppressing the strong force; the warheads shed neutrons at very low energies and are rendered harmless after a short exposure. Both fission and fusion warheads are affected, as fusion warheads use a fission trigger to create the heat required for the fusion reaction.

Dampers may also be used to eliminate radioactive contamination from an area. The damper is focused on the contamination and forces the radioactive particles to shed radiation until they are inert.

Applied Nuclear Damper Technology

Nuclear dampers may be mounted in spaceships or on vehicles. A damper unit consists of three components: two separate damper projectors and a fire control system. Shipboard dampers are generally mounted as far apart as possible, and contain an integral fire control system for efficiency.

Damper Box

A further development of the nuclear damper is the Damper Box. This focuses a positive node on its contents, raising the potential barrier and preventing nuclear decay. Damper boxes are used to store collapsing rounds, allowing materials with short usable half-lives to be used as ammunition.

History & Background (Dossier)

Nuclear Dampers are one of the three advanced scientific discoveries and new technologies of Charted Space, the other two being Gravity control technology and the Jump Drive.

Technological Overview of Defensive Ship Technology

Force Field Generator ("Globe Series"):

• Black Globe Generator → White Globe Generator → Silver Globe Generator → Stasis Globe Generator

Damper Series:

• Electrostatic Screen → Nuclear Damper → Meson Screen → Proton Screen

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Far Future Enterprises or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.

• Marc Miller, Frank Chadwick, John Harshman. High Guard (Game Designers Workshop, 1980), .
• Frank Chadwick. Striker (Game Designers Workshop, 1981), .
• Don Perrin. Starships (Imperium Games, 1996), 72,100.
• Traveller Wiki Editorial Team
• Author & Contributor: Lord (Marquis) and Master of Sophontology Maksim-Smelchak of the Ministry of Science