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!"