BY LETTER
Q-Mirror
Hypothetical ClarkeTech artifact that transmits matter into anti-matter.
Such a structure would almost certainly be composed of Q-matter, but
retains two fundamental mysteries:
1. A method for containing Q-Balls efficiently is unknown.
2. Q-Balls typically reflect fermions into anti-fermions, and vice
versa. External transmission is not observed in quantum field theory.
The means for inverting transmission and reflection coefficients
remains unknown and of dubious physical realizability.
Nevertheless, the Q-Mirror meme is particularly strong, and apocryphal
stories continue to exist on the Known Net, usually with one of the
following variations:
1. A modosophont invents/finds/earns a perfect antimatter rocketship,
capable of any relativistic velocity with any fuel. The core contains
a one-way Q-Mirror.
2. A modosophont undertakes some vast cunning/diabolical maze/quest
with two doors at the end. A logic riddle ensues, and the modosophont
solves the correct door to discover fabulous wealth and riches on the
other side (thus avoiding certain death from the other door). But
"solving" the puzzle, the protagonist passes through a one-way
Q-Mirror, thus trapping/defeating/killing them in the end (Never Deal
with an Archai).
3. A twin neuron star Archailect wishes to solve some final puzzle
that requires more information density than available within millions
of parsecs. The being converts half of itself into antimatter via a
vast Q-Mirror, colliding itself with perfect fidelity packing maximum
computational 4-volume. Many variations on what the puzzle is, and
what the repercussions are of solving it.
4. Variant of #1, involving a Hider Clade and a diabolical Archai.
5. Variant of #3, involving the Fermi Paradox and sterilization of
life throughout a particular volume.
Reference: Mythology
Such a structure would almost certainly be composed of Q-matter, but
retains two fundamental mysteries:
1. A method for containing Q-Balls efficiently is unknown.
2. Q-Balls typically reflect fermions into anti-fermions, and vice
versa. External transmission is not observed in quantum field theory.
The means for inverting transmission and reflection coefficients
remains unknown and of dubious physical realizability.
Nevertheless, the Q-Mirror meme is particularly strong, and apocryphal
stories continue to exist on the Known Net, usually with one of the
following variations:
1. A modosophont invents/finds/earns a perfect antimatter rocketship,
capable of any relativistic velocity with any fuel. The core contains
a one-way Q-Mirror.
2. A modosophont undertakes some vast cunning/diabolical maze/quest
with two doors at the end. A logic riddle ensues, and the modosophont
solves the correct door to discover fabulous wealth and riches on the
other side (thus avoiding certain death from the other door). But
"solving" the puzzle, the protagonist passes through a one-way
Q-Mirror, thus trapping/defeating/killing them in the end (Never Deal
with an Archai).
3. A twin neuron star Archailect wishes to solve some final puzzle
that requires more information density than available within millions
of parsecs. The being converts half of itself into antimatter via a
vast Q-Mirror, colliding itself with perfect fidelity packing maximum
computational 4-volume. Many variations on what the puzzle is, and
what the repercussions are of solving it.
4. Variant of #1, involving a Hider Clade and a diabolical Archai.
5. Variant of #3, involving the Fermi Paradox and sterilization of
life throughout a particular volume.
Reference: Mythology
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Development Notes
Text by Adam Getchell
Initially published on 31 December 2007.
Initially published on 31 December 2007.
