Gubbins.5581i2160@radc-multics@sri-unix.UUCP (08/11/83)
Mr. Spock, will you please explain the principles of the Transporter to
SF-Lovers. Like really, how does it work?
Spock said quietly, "It is a multi-stage process. First, your body
is entirely mapped - that's what produces the sparkle effect - then the
component molecules are disassembled and converted into photonic waves -"
Photonic waves???
Spock said drily, "Photonic waves: the interference pattern in a coherent
transporter beam - which is a much more precise and controlled development
of the same principle that produces a phaser beam - phased light, but of
a very high frequency. In fact, the frequency approaches the theoretical
limits of the vibratory ability of matter in this particular configuration
of space-time. The beam has the ability to penetrate some kinds of materials.
If the target is well-shielded, however, or moving too rapidly, focusing
becomes problematic. Anything less than 99.9999% accuracy is usually -,"
he hesitated for only the briefest of instants, "- less than desirable.
At the point at which the interference patterns coalesce, the transported
object rematerializes."
Eh???
Spock explained further. "It's really quite simple. The locus of
coalescence is controlled by the separate frequencies of the individual
beams that make up the mega-beam of the transporter. This is usually handled
entirely by the transmitting station... The information being sent on the
beam exists not within the beam itself but in the harmonics of the various
interference patterns that the separate beams produce. Although there are
three-dimensional harmonics produced throughout the length of the beam,
they are chaotic orders, out of tune with each other. At the point at
which all the harmonics come into phase again - that is, the point of
focus - all of the separate frequencies are once more tuned exactly as
they were at the point of transportation, and the photonic waves collapse
back into their material equivalents - forming an exact replica of the
pattern that they held at the moment of disassembly. I hope that makes
it all clear to you."
Can we take a taxi instead?
Lt. Kevin Riley adds, "It's safer than the taxi. If for any reason
there's a problem, the polarity of the monitron beam can be reversed and
instead of transporting to a target, the beam brings you back."
[So now we know. This should provide enough flaming fuel for a while as
to pattern reconstruction and memory management. Quoted material from
>The Galactic Whirlpool< by David Gerrold of Tribbles fame, page 141.]