Neckromacr

Thanks for the useful links. I think I might not have been describing the reaction correctly. The imbalance more matter fuel than antimatter fuel, it would react more like a nuclear thermal rocket. The plasma ducting I envisioned did in fact have one main conduit that could be opened when forward thrust was needed. Otherwise it was ducted to smaller tubes for directional thrusters. I see now a constant need for constant need plasma to absorb some of the gamma radiation, in that perhaps gas turbines can be used to generate even more electricity in addition to the energy collectors inside the reactor core. The reason I don't use the annihilation byproduct is that these conventional thrust engines are supposed to be used for local maneuvering. A spaceport would be a very radioactive place with venting all the by-products to the local area. The main propulsion system for covering interplanetary systems is the bias drive which is all electric, so in the area where it'd be ok to spray by-product everywhere the ships don't need to do so. But now that I'm thinking of it perhaps a mix of a center plasma thruster and secondary ion thrustors could be used in conjunction with each other.

I've been spinning a sci-fi universe up for sometime. So naturally I'll be tapping the power of the Matter-AntiMatter reaction for its massive power. I'd like to know if the mechanical concept of how I've envisioned it would seem plausible. Matter and Anti-matter are injected into a reaction chamber. The matter entering the chamber far out numbers the antimatter. The purpose is two fold, the reactor generates electrical power from "energy collectors" in the main reaction chamber. What matter isn't immediately annihilated is put into a high energy plasma state. The plasma can be ducted to engines and used for directional thrust. The reaction can be leaned or enriched depending on how much plasma is needed at a given moment for thrust. The plasma thrusters are not the primary mode of conveyance. The ships utilize bias drives which require a large electrical load, which is the main reason for using something as potent as an antimatter reactor. The reactor is always using an asymmetric ratio of fuel and thus always creating some plasma. Now what I'd like to know is how eye roll is any of this worthy of? Would there be a better way of creating electrical output, or even the thrust for the ship.

It's funny you mention that, its never occurred to me but it fits. Although it's questionable how they would react to a mirror world, did the creator make a back up? In the context of the story the creator is far more physical and less ethereal than what a Creationist would fancy. I think I've completed a more technical list of key trait differences that would differentiate the Cortans from Humans: -Slightly Larger Vetically slitted pupils with a greater number of rods than cones giving greater visual acuity, but color vision is limited to about 20 meters or so. As well as the presence of Tapetum lucidum (thanks Greg H.) giving greater night vision -More aggressive omnivorous teeth (bear like) -A greater concentration of olfactory receptors in the sinuses. As well as a function and well developed vomeronasal organ on the roof of their mouth. -A higher ratio of fast-twitch muscles than slow-twitch muscles giving them greater speed, but humans greater raw strength -chromosome number would be equal to Humans to allow viable reproduction (key to greater story arc) -vestigial nerve clusters in the upper lip from whiskers that have been evolved out -slim spiny keratin filiform on the tongue -the way they metabolize chemicals and their effects on the body seem to have reverse effects (caffeine causing inebriation, alcohol creating an alert state) -Vellus hair covers their body, but is unchanged by sexual maturity. The only coarser hair grows only as eyelashes, eyebrows and scalp. -Testes located in the abdomen. I think the list is a bit more technical now, which is good. I would hope that these traits found on disinfection would make a biologist stop and think this was not Human. Indeed in the frame of the story universe genetic manipulation is possible (although not common) so enhanced traits such as augmented senses could make sense, say if Humans were trying to make a super soldier. But that's why I focus on items that would not have obvious gains as to be engineered in. And for the record Kate Beckinsale looks more like a Cortan, just give her violet iris eyes and vertical pupils and she's pretty close to a supporting charater . Jessica Alba's lips are too full to be Cortan. Nothing against them, just very Human.

Thank you, but do we know what would happen in the asymmetric matter reaction. Like if an anti-hydrogen atom encountered an iron atom? Would it just be another gamma burst or would there be something left over?

The rest of the universe in the story adheres completely to your human/pine analogy, there is a designed reason why the species are so similar. The fact that they are indeed two alien species yet so compatible are treated like the proverbial white elephant in the room by the biologists in the context of the story line. I suppose I should have entitled the thread what would be Felidae specific traits for a humanoid. I have a few, Id like to find more. Specifically how someone dissecting one might note key differences that would identify as Feildae-like. I suppose at some point I have to give up some technical accuracy for the sake of the given story, but I'd like to get as close as possible.

This could be a possible, but for the purposes of the story they should be as similar to life on Earth. I suppose I should reveal that the driving reason for the need in similarity and compatability of our and their species is that both were designed by a third party. It should look like both species came off the same drafting desk as it were. The species in question is not trying to invade or anything, its just that humanoid can be a very rough term as I was trying to give reference to how close their appearance resembles our own. In regard to classical biology I understand the definition of the species, but interbreeding does happen. The most notable of which is the the grizzly/polar bear hybrids which retain reproductive viability. There was also one other key trait which I forgot to add in last night to the list: -The species (let's call them Cortans for simplicity of reference) metabolize chemicals with different from ourselves i.e. Alchol is stimulant where as caffeine is a depressant

I've been writing for years about an alien species that is nearly identical to Humans. Without going into too much detail, there are key plot points as to why they're so similar to us. In fact living on a planet and biosphere shockingly similar to our own, especially given the rest of the alien life in the story universe is very diverse. I've always said if you passed one on the street you might not know it was a different species. There are a few key traits that have come to me over the years: -Vertically slitted pupils, giving highly acute distance but poor color vision. Color vision is limited to close distances, everything further is black and white (even possible?) -More aggressively omnivorous teeth, think like a bear's -More acute hearing and olfactory senses -muscle structure doesn't increase in mass like our own but becomes far denser, giving them greater reaction speed, but Humans have greater capacity in raw strength -genetic structure is similar enough to interbreed with Humans -they are descended from their family of Felidae Feel free to discount any of these traits, or tell me other traits that would point to being a humanoid Felidae. Indeed at one point a deceased specimen is being looked over to find differences, so as many other plausible details would be appreciated (i.e. possibly vestigial nerve clusters in the upper lip left over from whiskers)

I suppose my first thread should be a problem I've been looking for the longest, and found a minimal of information on. First a little background, I've been writing Sci-Fi for years, but recently I want to make sure the content featured is plausible. While Matter/Anti-matter reactions have been a popular trope of Sci-fi for years there's always some "black magic" involved to make it work, in such anything in it I find suspect. In a pure M/AM reaction I know it is a pure release of energy, but what happens when it's two different elements of matter and anti-matter contacting. Do the similar components eradicate one another but leave behind the matter "leftovers" as it were, or would it be a complete change pure energy? Or if the number of matter atoms highly out number the anti-matter, lets say 1 to 100, what doesn't get eradicated immediately cause the surviving atoms to go into a highly energized state? In the stories I write I envision a reactor that produces not only a very high level of energy, but also a high energy plasma. The energy going towards running the ship, while the plasma is used for Newtonian propulsion. As such the reaction can be "leaned out" when the need for electrical generation is needed, but no or less need for plasma for propulsion is needed. So please tell me how far base I am, or if it seems plausible and how.

Hello, I'm Steve, but I've been Neckromacr on the internet for years, so I suppose why stop now. I've been personally interested in science my whole life, but I've never really perused any particular area. My real passion is writing, especially in science fiction, so you can see the correlation. I'm getting more serious about my writing and found this forum to make sure the content is at least plausible. So you can expect to find me in Physics (especially theoretical), Biology, and Astronomy quite often.