Comment Re:Mythbusters (Score 1) 584
The mirrors wouldn't have to be aligned in a parabola path. Although the parabola is the shape that focuses all incoming parallel rays to one single point, and it would indeed have to be a parabola if they were using one large mirror, as long as the incoming rays are reflected back onto the ship it really doesn't matter how they are arranged (semi-circular, linearly, parabolicly).
What would be best is to arrange the mirrors so most of them aimed the rays perpendicular to the ships hull , so a 3D setup (probably paraboloid) would be best.
I suspect it would work better if each mirror was somewhat parabolic (or an odd shape depending on the angle to the incoming rays) to focus the light rays to the smallest point possible--something that would be possible with silver or copper mirrors, but not easily with glass.
What would be best is to arrange the mirrors so most of them aimed the rays perpendicular to the ships hull , so a 3D setup (probably paraboloid) would be best.
I suspect it would work better if each mirror was somewhat parabolic (or an odd shape depending on the angle to the incoming rays) to focus the light rays to the smallest point possible--something that would be possible with silver or copper mirrors, but not easily with glass.
