How To Make a Bigger Boom in the 'Gateverse

[ultranos]

During the LJ server move, I ended up pestering holdouttrout with the most recent aspect of the 'gateverse my brain latched onto. This time, it's "so, how does naquadah enhance explosions?"



So, there are two competing theories. Well, three, but the third is the postulate that naquadah is one of the superheavy elements waay far down in the periodic table in the theorized Island of Stability and can be used in thermonuclear reactions. Seeing as how this flies in the face of my deeply-held belief that "Naquadah is Not an Element", we're throwing this theory out.

(Further explanation of why we are throwing that theory out: I have a hard time believing that naquadah is an element due to its apparent stability and the properties it claims to have. Since the Island of Stability is simply a theory and that there is little evidence to support it, and that in fact, the half-lives of the elements is proven to get shorter and shorter the further down the periodic table it is.)

Anyway, so we've got two theories:

1) Naquadah reacts solely with fission reactions, and that's why the SGC laces nuclear warheads with it, or

2) Naquadah reacts when it comes in contact with another chemical and heat or strong current, and this has the effect of amplifying an explosion.

The first theory is supported by the fact that I can't think of any instance outside of a nuke that naquadah ever enhanced an explosion. (If anyone wants to share instances, either for or against, please, be my guest.)

The second has the highly-questionable (in terms of science) scene in "Singularity" where Nirrti's bomb inside Cassie was supposed to be based off the reaction of naquadah and potassium coming in contact. On the other hand, there is also the asteroid Anubis sent to smash into Earth which was full of naquadah. If I'm remembering the episode correctly, SG-1 couldn't blow it up because the explosion would be enhanced enough from all the naquadah that it would either ignite the atmosphere or just pulverize the planet.

On the other other hand, there is also the problem of the Stargates being made of naquadah and surviving nuclear explosions, which pokes holes in the theory of needing a high heat flux to cause a reaction. Unless the naquadah used to create Stargates is a more-stable version than weapons-grade.

I'll admit to being partial to the second theory, but I'll freely admit that's because it's a bit more elegant and allows for greater flexibility in terms of being able to do creative things with naquadah and things that go "boom".



Anyway, if anyone has any further ideas, or evidence, or theories, please feel free to share.

ETA: fixed wording issue and added a damn conclusion

Comments

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

Well they do make a difference with weapon's grade.

Stargates have survived impacts from meteorites (although raw naquadah melted (100 Days). And falling through orbit/ship breaking up (Nemesis). They survived volcanic explosion (um...that first ep with Narim).

They had to build a special Mark IX Gatebuster Weapon to blow up a Stargate. Maybe there's some kind of stabilizing thingie mixed with the naquadah when it's made into the big wormholey rings that flush sideways?

Carter technobabbles about it some in Chain Reaction, but it's all gamma rays and stuff.

[ultranos-fic.livejournal.com]

Right. I knew there was a difference with weapons-grade.

*nods* They seem to be very nonreactive at high temperatures, which is why I'm wondering just how it's useful in making bigger booms. (That's a technical term. :P)

Yeah, I'm convinced that the Stargates are probably made of an alloy of naquadah and...something else. Maybe.

But the Gatebuster implies that it might be possible to blow up a 'gate with just the energy in a really big explosion. Which means it might not be just a fission reaction.

(Man, it's a good thing I'm doing "Chain Reaction" for redial_the_gate, then, isn't it?)

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

I DO NOT HAVE TIME RIGHT NOW TO SPEND ALL NIGHT WITH YOU FIGURING OUT STARGATE SCIENCE!!!!

WHY ARE YOU EVIL!?!?!?!

[ultranos-fic.livejournal.com]

Funny, I was blaming YOUR INFLUENCE on why I was staring at C-Po bonding for possible compounds! :P

I HAVE A TEST IN THERMAL-FLUIDS ENGINEERING THIS WEEK! NOT STARGATE SCIENCE! ARGH.

[abyssinia4077.livejournal.com]

Hey, I was not around or influencing you in any way when you went down this path toward insanity, just for the record.

[though, and I'm sure we've talked about this, NO WAY IN HECK IS NAQUADAH AN ELEMENT]

[SUPER NO WAY IS THAT CRAP FROM RED SKY AN ELEMENT]

It is weird to have something so remarkably stable, such an amazing superconductor (without even needing to be cooled down), able to withstand just about anything and yet....highly explosive.

I guess maybe when you give it just right energy in just the right form to set off the chain reaction it REALLY goes? We'll ignore how much sense that doesn't make.

OY STARGATE SCIENCE

[thermal-fluids engineering sounds a bit like stargate science, and you're trying to figure out thermal bits....]

[ultranos-fic.livejournal.com]

It's the headspace thing. *nods*

[*hums the "Naquadah Is Not An Element" song*]

[WTF IS THAT STUFF FROM RED SKY?! UNOBTAINIUM?!]

Um, yeah. What you said.

Why am I now wondering if they make it act as hyperspace fuel or in a reactor by reacting it with something crazy? Like...chlorine triflouride (it EATS THROUGH CONCRETE)? Or
octanitrocubane.

[If my thermal-fluids engineering final is "design a coolant system for a naquadah reactor", I'm leaving. Or possibly bowing down and worshiping my professor. :P]

Neutron reflector

[shanghairain.livejournal.com]

My original thought (communicated to ultranos) was that naquadah was just a really excellent neutron reflector, better than beryllium; all Ra did was to wrap the uranium core of the nuke they brought in a shell of naquadah. Presto, bigger (and moderately more plausible) boom.