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I wonder how difficult it would be to create an artificial planetary magnetic field with generators? What power would they need?

The question is inspired by thinking about possible colonization of Jupiter's moons Io and Europa, which are located inside the Jovian radiation belt. Is it possible to create with easy means an artificial magnetic field such that it would shield the surfaces of these moons from radiation? Or would it require an astronomical amount of power?

By easy means I mean a device that would not require power greater than a normal industrial power plant, best of all, solar-powered or based on once-charged superconductor coils.

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    $\begingroup$ It would take a vast amount of power. You aren't going to get that from a solar collector or normal power plant. $\endgroup$
    – GdD
    Commented Oct 10, 2014 at 16:50
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    $\begingroup$ Not quite astronomical. A terawatt would recreate the Earth's magnetic field. That's about 800 flux capacitors at 1.21 gigawatts each, or about 50 Three Gorges Dam-equivalents at 18.3 gigawatts each. $\endgroup$
    – David Hammen
    Commented Oct 10, 2014 at 17:00
  • $\begingroup$ @David Hammen of course smaller planet would require less energy. Or one may choose to cover just some areas... $\endgroup$
    – Anixx
    Commented Oct 10, 2014 at 17:07
  • $\begingroup$ Fine. Scale it down by a factor of 800 to 1.21 gigawatts so all you need is one flux capacitor. Since we don't have a flux capacitor yet, you'll need 11,000 times the total generating power of the International Space Station. $\endgroup$
    – David Hammen
    Commented Oct 10, 2014 at 17:14
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    $\begingroup$ Scaling down the Earth's magnetic field down by a factor of roughly 1000 results in something that is orders of magnitude out of reach. My answer of 11,000 Space Station equivalents was wrong; I didn't account for the distance of Jupiter from the Sun. You'll need about 300,000 Space Station equivalents to generate 1.21 gigawatts at Io or Europa. Will that do the trick? Jupiter's magnetic field is very large. 1.21 gigawatts might be enough to protect a smallish colony. Until we have Mr Fusion, that 1.21 gigawatts is out of reach. Even 1.21 megawatts at Jupiter's orbit is out of reach. $\endgroup$
    – David Hammen
    Commented Oct 10, 2014 at 17:39

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