Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site dartvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!wjh12!genrad!decvax!dartvax!raiche
From: raiche@dartvax.UUCP (George A. Raiche)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Hot potato
Message-ID: <2633@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 13-Dec-84 15:38:07 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.2633
Posted: Thu Dec 13 15:38:07 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 01:56:48 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 46


We all know that antimatter is a difficult material to handle; contact with
any matter (even gases) produces an, uh, energetic reaction.  From
"Obsession": "Imagine--an ounce of antimatter, more powerful than 10 000
cobalt bombs."  Also , we're told that the resulting blast will "rip half
the atmosphere from the planet."  Remember that this antimatter was 
drained from the warp drive--presumably Enterprise carries much more than
an ounce.  (Someone else can argue for the definition of an ounce of 
antimatter.)  So the reaction of all the antimatter carried by Enterprise
would produce a big bang indeed, if not moderated.

Now the problem with antimatter is that you can't store it in a reactive
container i.e. a container made of matter; even Teflon coated polyethylene
is out.  Fortunately, it is possible to create electromagnetic (and even
gravitational-field) "bottles" which can effectively isolate the antimatter
from contact with any matter.  All you need is the FIELD GENERATOR, and a
POWER SUPPLY.

So now the warp drive is damaged beyond repair, the Klingons are coming, and
you'd like to abandon ship.  You'll initiate a sequence of commands that
will effectively destroy your ship--let's say you set off "controlled"
explosions on the bridge, computer center, engineering, etc.  These ex-
plosions will disrupt power supplies.  But what happens to the antimatter
field-isolation bottles, and the antimatter stored in them??

			    B   O   O   M   !!

Once you destroy your ship, you destroy the only thing that keeps your
matter and antimatter apart. PLEASE don't argue that the field bottle
would survive the self-destuct; electromagnetic bottles are difficult
at best to maintain, and are notorious for their power consumption!  And
remember--the field-generating equipment has to be OUTSIDE this force
field, or else!

One bonus, however; you wouldn't need a distress signal!!

				Cheerfully ruining everyone's day,

				George Raiche
				Dept. of Chemistry
				Dartmouth


				"Take great care; the police
					are everywhere!"