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Slipstream space: Difference between revisions
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(the Dreadnought velocity part was based on the assumption that the carrier was as fast as the Bloodied Spirit, of which we have no proof.) |
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The [[Covenant]] also utilizes the same eleven dimensions of slipstream space for travel, though the means they use to make the transition are most likely different than those of the humans because of their markedly faster journeys from point to point. It has been theorized by the UNSC that Covenant drives generate several 'microjumps' within a single slipspace transition to measure dilation, allowing them to reach their destinations faster.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike (2010)''', ''[[Tug o' War]]''</ref> | The [[Covenant]] also utilizes the same eleven dimensions of slipstream space for travel, though the means they use to make the transition are most likely different than those of the humans because of their markedly faster journeys from point to point. It has been theorized by the UNSC that Covenant drives generate several 'microjumps' within a single slipspace transition to measure dilation, allowing them to reach their destinations faster.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike (2010)''', ''[[Tug o' War]]''</ref> | ||
The [[Forerunner]]s had a far greater understanding of slipstream space, with the abilities to travel nearly instantaneously over galactic distances, transport massive objects through the use of [[slipspace portal|portals]], to disrupt slipstream travel from normal space | The [[Forerunner]]s had a far greater understanding of slipstream space, with the abilities to travel nearly instantaneously over galactic distances, transport massive objects through the use of [[slipspace portal|portals]], to disrupt slipstream travel from normal space and [[Core authority|track slipspace jumps across the galaxy]]. In addition, they had developed a great variety of other applications, often involving the manipulation of time and space within a slipspace field. | ||
==Mechanics== | ==Mechanics== | ||
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Slipspace can be thought of as the detectable universe, (which, technically, it is), but with a greater number of dimensions. Our plane of existence is thought to have four dimensions (up-down, front-back, side-to-side and time), but slipspace is an eleven-dimensional spacetime.<ref name="eleven"/> By [[2552]], slipspace is theorized as a "tangle" of our plane's dimensions, rather like taking the classic "flat sheet" used to represent gravity and crumpling it up into a ball, thereby creating extra dimensions and shorter spaces between points. The slipstream also possesses different laws of physics than our "normal" universe, although some basic ones, such as energy transfer and momentum, remain the same.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 55''</ref> | Slipspace can be thought of as the detectable universe, (which, technically, it is), but with a greater number of dimensions. Our plane of existence is thought to have four dimensions (up-down, front-back, side-to-side and time), but slipspace is an eleven-dimensional spacetime.<ref name="eleven"/> By [[2552]], slipspace is theorized as a "tangle" of our plane's dimensions, rather like taking the classic "flat sheet" used to represent gravity and crumpling it up into a ball, thereby creating extra dimensions and shorter spaces between points. The slipstream also possesses different laws of physics than our "normal" universe, although some basic ones, such as energy transfer and momentum, remain the same.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 55''</ref> | ||
The relativistic side-effects of slipspace travel are eliminated by a process known as causal reconciliation | Slipspace travel is dangerous due to the high level of [[radiation]] encountered during the trip, which can be extremely hazardous to the crew. This is negated by the use of [[lead foil]] in UNSC ships, which absorbs the radiation. Fissile materials also emit radiation, specifically [[Čerenkov radiation]], emitted when particles travel through a medium at a faster rate than light travels in that same medium upon exiting Slipspace; this is not harmful to humans, however it does make emerging from Slipspace very noticeable. It is not known how the Covenant deal with radiation, but it is presumed that either they also utilize a shielding material, or with their improved slipspace technology and [[energy shielding]], it does not affect them at all.<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 13''</ref> In addition, slipspace travel generates a great deal of static electricity on the ship's hull. To discharge the static energy, [[human]]s have developed a piezoelectric material known as [[polymerized lithium niobocene]].<ref>'''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''', ''July 30, 2511''</ref> In addition, starships are not normally directly exposed to the eleven-dimensional space-time while in slipspace, but are instead enveloped in a quantum field.<ref>'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''December 25, 2534''</ref> | ||
===Time dilation=== | |||
The relativistic side-effects of slipspace travel are normally eliminated by a process known as causal reconciliation,<ref name="cryp322">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 322''</ref> or particle reconciliation.<ref name="cryp135">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 135''</ref> This effect is briefly experienced once the ship returns to normal space, and manifests as a shimmering blue glow radiating out of the ship<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 312''</ref> and static electricity building up in the occupants' bodies.<ref name="cryp322"/> With longer jumps, the effects of reconciliation are clearly noticeable for several seconds upon returning to normal space.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''pages 100, 135, 266''</ref> However, the range for causal reconciliation is limited. If a ship performs a significantly long jump, time dilation effects may be experienced.<ref name="cryp135"/> With shorter jumps like those typically performed by human ships, the effects experienced by the occupants are negligible. | |||
The time slipspace travel takes to normal-space observers varies substantially - one cannot depend on the same amount of time passing in slipstream space and normal space. With human slipspace travel, there is generally a five to ten percent variance in travel times between stars. A fleet that transitions to slipstream space at the same time may or may not transition back to normal space at the same time. Furthermore, if ship 'A' and ship 'B' both were to enter slipstream space at the same time and exit at the same time, the crew on ship 'A' could have experienced a longer journey subjectively, and the crew of ship 'A' could be a week older than that of ship 'B' despite appearances in normal space. Though no human scientist is sure why travel time between stars is not constant, many theorize that there are "eddies" or "currents" within the slipstream. This temporal inconsistency has given military tacticians and strategists fits, hampering an uncounted number of coordinated attacks.<ref name="timeline">'''Halo.Xbox.com''' - ''Halo Timeline''</ref> | The time slipspace travel takes to normal-space observers varies substantially - one cannot depend on the same amount of time passing in slipstream space and normal space. With human slipspace travel, there is generally a five to ten percent variance in travel times between stars. A fleet that transitions to slipstream space at the same time may or may not transition back to normal space at the same time. Furthermore, if ship 'A' and ship 'B' both were to enter slipstream space at the same time and exit at the same time, the crew on ship 'A' could have experienced a longer journey subjectively, and the crew of ship 'A' could be a week older than that of ship 'B' despite appearances in normal space. Though no human scientist is sure why travel time between stars is not constant, many theorize that there are "eddies" or "currents" within the slipstream. This temporal inconsistency has given military tacticians and strategists fits, hampering an uncounted number of coordinated attacks.<ref name="timeline">'''Halo.Xbox.com''' - ''Halo Timeline''</ref> | ||
In addition, there is a "bandwidth" for the amount of things going through slipstream space at once. This effect is noticeable if immense amounts of mass are transported over large distances frequently, making slipspace travel throughout the galaxy move more slowly and journeys require more individual jumps to complete.<ref name="cryp266">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 266''</ref> This was seen when [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] used slipspace portals to transport the Halo Array.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 223''</ref> If slipspace takes too much abuse through transit of massive amounts of mass, any ship occupants passing through it may become dangerously exposed to the foreign physics of the slipstream, also resulting in causal reconciliation effects far more severe than normal. It may take years for slipspace to return back to normal from this state.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 341 | In addition, there is a "bandwidth" for the amount of things going through slipstream space at once. This effect is noticeable if immense amounts of mass are transported over large distances frequently, making slipspace travel throughout the galaxy move more slowly and journeys require more individual jumps to complete.<ref name="cryp266">'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 266''</ref> This was seen when [[Master Builder]] [[Faber]] used slipspace portals to transport the Halo Array.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 223''</ref> If slipspace takes too much abuse through transit of massive amounts of mass, any ship occupants passing through it may become dangerously exposed to the foreign physics of the slipstream, also resulting in causal reconciliation effects far more severe than normal, involving loss of perception of reality and time, massive amounts of electrical charge, even lack of solidity.<ref name="cryp322"/> It may take years for slipspace to return back to normal from this state.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 341''</ref> | ||
===Drive operation=== | ===Drive operation=== | ||
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===AI housing=== | ===AI housing=== | ||
A possible application of Slipspace is the use of its eleven-dimensional space-time as housing space for [[artificial intelligence]] constructs, in a purely abstract fractal constructed within the slipstream. This would grant AIs complete independence from physical systems give them virtually infinite room for extended cross-linkages, expanding their processing capabilities and thus granting them virtual immortality. So far, this has only been attempted once, by [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] in an unsanctioned experiment in [[2547]]. Though Halsey was ultimately forced to destroy her work, the AIs of the [[Assembly]] recognized it as a viable means of gaining permanent independence from their creators.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad 17]]''</ref><ref name="journal"/> | A possible application of Slipspace is the use of its eleven-dimensional space-time as housing space for [[artificial intelligence]] constructs, in a purely abstract fractal constructed within the slipstream. This would grant AIs complete independence from physical systems give them virtually infinite room for extended cross-linkages, expanding their processing capabilities and thus granting them virtual immortality. So far, this has only been attempted once, by [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] in an unsanctioned experiment in [[2547]]. Though Halsey was ultimately forced to destroy her work, the AIs of the [[Assembly]] recognized it as a viable means of gaining permanent independence from their creators.<ref>'''Halo: Reach''', ''[[Data pads|Data pad 17]]''</ref><ref name="journal"/> | ||
===Forerunner applications=== | |||
The Forerunners had developed a great deal of applications for the slipstream, including to create bubbles of slipstream space, slowing time considerably inside (if not stopping time altogether) while keeping the contents of the bubble visible in normal space, to store considerable masses and volumes in slipstream space stably for thousands of years and potentially for all of time, and to transition matter from normal space to the inside of a construct in slipstream space without requiring the construct to transition back to normal space. The same technology was utilized in [[slipspace field pod]]s that were essentially a Forerunner equivalent of [[cryo-chamber]]s, effectively preserving a living organism inside a slipspace field. In addition, the Forerunners had the ability to construct weapon systems that could fire into slipspace and affect targets in normal space or within slipspace. This is demonstrated by the galaxy-wide effects of the [[Halo Array]], as well as in smaller scale by [[Line Installation 1-4]].<ref name="blood">'''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''' - ''[[Halo: Blood Line Issue 1|Issue 1]]''</ref> They were apparently also able to send several objects into slipspace and have them exit in different locations.<ref>'''[[Halo Legends]]''': ''[[Origins]]''</ref> | |||
==Similarities== | ==Similarities== | ||