Death Star vs Gamma Ray Burst

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2008-03-23 12:47am

http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2008 ... sible-grb/

So I was wondering which was stronger, a gamma ray burst, or the death star superlaser.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2008-03-23 01:49am

Gamma Ray Burst. It's on the order of 10^45 J. source

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2008-03-23 02:03am

According to the blog linked.

Gamma ray burst described: "million million million" times a 1 MT bomb, more energy than a star produces in its lifetime.
(1E6)^3 = 1E18 MT

However, their "number" isn't exactly very precise. According to a more reliable site, a GRB can release on the order of 1E45 or even up to 1E47 Joules

DS blast: 1E22 MT or 1E38 Joules, lower limit.

DaveJB · Post by **DaveJB** » 2008-03-23 05:07am

In terms of raw power, a gamma ray burst. However, only a small portion of that burst would ever hit a planet - best case would be that the biosphere and a good chunk of the crust were roasted off the planet. With the Death Star, all that energy is focused towards the planet, resulting in a nice big boom.

Ariphaos · Post by **Ariphaos** » 2008-03-23 09:40am

If close enough, a GRB will easily vaporize a planet. At about .1% of a light-year Earth would receive over 1e32 joules of energy.