Is this a plausible idea? (uses antimatter).?

Question

if we had an antimatter generating station orbiting the sun or something and it didn't cost billions of dollars for a microgram...

could small pieces of antimatter be held inside a permanent magnet sphere (in a vacuum obviously), and then a simple timing device that would release a pin and crack the sphere thus causing an explosion.

are the physics behind that possible and could that method be used to make small grenades and bombs of great power?

Answer 1

Read Angels and Demons. Although the antimatter making technique is totally impractical, it just might be possible to store the stuff in a hand-grenade sized container. Magnetic suspension has already been done, although it would make a large hand grenade with current technology.
http://www.levitron.com/

A truly perfect vacuum really is impossible, but a near-perfect vacuum could be done. Just as long as you eliminate all the gas molecules floating around, you should be safe enough. http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae290.cfm

Answer 2

In theory, this would work. You have already pointed out that the cost of making and working with anti-matter is astronomical. Another problem is creating a perfect vacuum. That is pretty much impossible and having a small portable containter to hold the antimatter is even more impossible. All you need is one atom to come into contact with the antimatter and you have enough energy released to destroy your device and release the rest of the antimatter.

Another limitation is the strength of the grenade vs. the arm strength of the person throwing. Making a grenade with a kiloton blast and giving it to a person who can throw it 30 feet won't work out so well. You can only make a grenade so strong, after that it will kill the person using it.

Answer 3

Possibly....but woudn't it be of better use to make free electricity??
Beam me up Scotty.