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From: richl@tektronix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Self-Destruct
Message-ID: <1195@tektroni.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Jun-83 00:21:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: tektroni.1195
Posted: Wed Jun 29 00:21:26 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 27-Jun-83 14:15:37 EDT
Lines: 14

Self destruct has been described in various ways with various effects,
but I think the general idea is NOT to allow the anti-matter and matter
come together but rather to allow the reactor mechanism (however it is
set up) to overheat. I recall in "The Doomsday Machine" when Kirk was
going to blow up the Constellation, he asked Scotty how much explosive
power a starship can supply when it "goes critical". This is a term that
seems to imply a reactor of some type. Also, Scotty's response (97.8
megatons, I believe) would not be indicative of a matter:anti-matter
reaction, which, I am led to believe by my physics learning, releases
a GREAT DEAL of energy.

Rick Lindsley
tektronix!richl
richl@tektronix