"By 2371 the Federation has a much clearer understanding of the make up of the universe than we do currently and therefor is better at blowing it up." Best. Quote. Ever.
@@That80sGuy1972 if google made the emitters they'd have only been available for 2 years then after being discontinued every holodeck in existence would stop working because the manufacturer's servers were turned off.
The original draft of Star Trek: First Contact had a massive Borg fleet being blown away by salvos of *Quantum torpedoes,* that acted like Transphasic torpedoes did at the end of Voyager on Cubes. And even the new Sovereign class was going to have twin Gatling pulse phaser cannons (on either side of the Saucer Section) that would devastate Cubes because each shot was a different frequency. Picard would then warn the Borg that if they didn't cease their attack, they would be destroyed as they were outclassed. Thus the whole time travel plot was then a Hail Mary by the Borg to eliminate a potential threat. And when the estimated budget for that whole sequence with hundreds of StarFleet ships fighting hundreds of Cubes was calculated, the producers went "couldn't we just have one Cube?"
Interesting. Unfortunately, leaving the time travel plot in after that gives the Borg a certain Bond-villain stupidity. Collective: "Last time our invasion was almost at it's goal when our ship was destroyed by a daring Starfleet mission and our own terrible cyber security." Any decent military leader ever: "Hmm-send maybe five ships that ought to do the trick." The Collective: "Let's create a complicated time travel device and try to assimilate them in the past. Even though we've never done that before and it could mess up our own past."
barring the budget i think it was the borgs pride and idea that they could adapt to anything hence send only one cube. but i know it has to do with budget reasons
Well even budget aside, the movie is better without that. For the borg to be effective villains they need to be unassailable with brute force, trying to merely overpowering them can’t work. You need to outsmart them. If starfleet was ever able to just blow them up with big boom weapons, they wouldn’t be a threat anymore.
Were episodes of Voyager with many cubes on screen assimilating worlds that were in no way as technologically. advanced as the federation! So to send single cubes to earth multiple times is just insane! Plot armor and a pen make for the story though! Lol
"Physics begins to demand to know just what the hell your playing at and begins to drag you back down to natural speed limits" made me laugh way more than it should and should be put on a shirt.
That was the first thing I thought of when he said a torpedo can be launched at warp speed, that the rest of the universe is going to _NOPE_ the heck out of that, and probably slap you for trying. Like the old billboards out beyond the orbit of Neptune used to say: "300 million meters per second - it's not just a good idea, IT'S THE LAW."
What I knew before the vid: In ST:Legacy - "They Penetrate Shields...?" In ST:Online - "They... Hit Harder...?" In ST:Media - "They... They're Blue...?"
Wait, maybe Quantums are lower yield, environmentally safe subspace weapons like Tricobalts. And all the technobabble is there to disguise that Starfleet is mass producing and using banned weaponry.
I think "They are Blue" has a degree of truth to them - Though at least they make more sense than why and exploding starship carring all that anti-matter doesn't make a bigger explosion or what "Photonic Charges" are or why 24th century ships can't fly backwards at warp and 23rd century ones can. Though I guess you could say that A Photon Torpedo goes "Boom" & a Quantum Torpedo goes "Quantum Boom"
@@90lancaster "why 24th century ships can't fly backwards at warp and 23rd century ones can." maybe because the dampeners and improvement of ship manoeuvring allows to quick turn a ship mid warp instead of forcing it to accelerate backwards? And also nacelles lose efficiency if they are dual mode vs one way only?
@@Corbomite_Meatballs That's what bugs me about it. We get in trouble for using it, the Tzenkethi get in trouble for using it, but Kuumaarke is a regular 25th Century Martha Stewart with the stuff.
It's not Starfleet, its humans. And it's why the Vulcans let us run things. Because we do Weird Fucking Shit just because why not? Got two warp cores? Ask for a third, smash them together, punch a hole into another universe, get mad because they decided to plan to do the same shit but with FOUR warp cores, fight them, steal their cores, punch a second hole to get home, turn a star into christmas bauble in the process then go have brunch.
Photon Torpedoes: "I am the staple of high yield weaponry." Quantum Torpedoes: "I am the biggest weapon in the Alpha Quadrant!" Transphasic Torpedoes: "Awww, you guys are SO cute! Yes you are."
My own head-canon on the transphasic torpedoes was that they cause the explosion to randomly phase through various quantum frequencies (for lack of a better word) throughout the explosion, making them _impossible_ for the Borg to adapt to. Basically no two explosions of a transphasic torpedo are even remotely similar, and therefore impossible to predict or counter.
Quantum Torpedo in a nutshell: It's a two-stage warhead analogous to a Thermonuclear warhead. They use the regular torpedo detonation to 'pinch' spacetime and cause it to release zero-point vacuum energy equal to the yield of the original reactant mass. Essentially a dimensional distortion bomb. There, now was that so hard?
@@a-blivvy-yus Rick did repeat, several times, that the 'science' behind Quantum Torpedoes didn't click for him. So I don't blame him. But it does require you at least know what the theory for zero point energy is. And that theory simply states in many more words that what we consider the absolute zero background resting state of the universe is not in fact empty of energy. That the existence of space itself inherently has energy. Energy you could theoretically tap into if you know how to do it. Based on the description of the Quantum Torpedo alone, I can see exactly what the writers did when they fleshed out the specifics. It works like a sci-fi thermonuclear bomb. In the case of a thermonuke, you detonate a uranium or plutonium fission bomb and use the casing of the weapon as a focusing lense to direct the energy of the blast onto the fusion element. That energy is utilized to create the pressure and temperature needed to trigger the fusion element, producing an exponentially larger blast. I know it seems strange to imagine 'focusing' a nuclear blast to do this, but the material of the casing does its job JUST long enough before everything is vaporized in a few hundredths of a second. The quantum torpedo is running on a the same kind of chain. You use the energy released by the matter-antimatter reaction and focus it through some kind of channel or construct designed to pinch/pull/rip/tear/coax/beg sweet forgiveness spacetime itself, and in typical Treknobabble, it releases double the kaboom for the yield. The 'quantum' in Quantum Torpedo comes from the fact that this construct focuses at a quantum point. That is, the size level at which your energy is arranged into individual quantifiable packets. (See: 'Quanta' and 'Quantized' for associated words). Speaking in computer programming, the 'quantum' level of scale of ANY computer program would be a single bit. Which is tiny. Obviously, if how shoving a bunch of gamma radiation into a quantum point translated into cracking space time open to spill out zero-point vacuum energy for real, we'd ALREADY have quantum torpedoes. So really, the nature of the quantum reaction and the construct that focuses it is the Black Box of this particular treknobabble. So there's no use postulating past that unless you want a nobel prize for figuring out a technology we can't apply anyway. (Not enough antimatter has been produced in the history of science itself to make a firecracker, let alone a photon/quantum torpedo.) Anyway, while double yield isn't a lot here compared to the EXPONENTIAL yield of a thermonuke compared to a fission bomb, it does present Starfleet ships with a two-for-one discount on firepower. Double your max yield per torpedo without changing the casing profile or reengineering the launchers to be bigger, or getting regular yield out of the torpedo with half your reactant mass, which can be useful in fuel economy scenarios. The yield improvement also increases the probability the torpedo will penetrate shields. The profile of the weapon hasn't changed, so the energy concentration per surface area at the impact point is considerably higher. I don't need to explain to you the significance of hitting a nail with a regular carpentry hammer vs hitting a nail with a 40 lb sledgehammer (assuming you're accurate enough).
@@atigerclaw Just to be clear, I wasn't saying I blame him or that he has any obligation to be a theoreticl physicist to be a Trek RUclipsr, the video's great! I'm just complimenting you on how efficiently you managed to simplify the concept. Because it's awesome and really shows that you know what you're talking about. As does the more thorough explanation, so thanks for proving my point.
@@atigerclaw That was... BEAUTIFUL! I know next to nothing about this field, and what I do know, I could understand in your writing, and what I didn't, you broke it down to where I could get it. Bravo, indeed! 10/10 will read again and again. As a side note, I would say the size of the striking face of a 40lbs sledge would make up a bit for an amount of lacking of accuracy :P
Theory: Photon and Quantum are really just sexy model names given by Big Torpedo in order to sell more of them to the UFP. Anyone reading this on a Galaxy phone can leave their appreciative 👍 below.
I was in a bad spot last year, my wife was really sick(covid actually but it was early on so dr's didn't know) and I came across this channel. I went back and watched his star trek online videos and for about 2 weeks every night after work I would bing watch them! The commentary is so on point! Rick's a good dude! If I ever find myself on his part of the planet im buying him a beer!
Long ago in Star Trek Online, Photons had the added effect of disabling crew and Quantums KILLED your crew. They eventually got rid of the "crew" game mechanic entirely - because the alternative was giving crew loss real consequences and the power players would never have tolerated that.
and the Scimitar's Thaleron Pulse, which came out a little before they cut the crew mechanic, was the reason why. losing crew meant your ship was less battle-ready, and the Thaleron pulse did massive damage to the ship and killed the entire crew.
"The point is, by 2371 the Federation has a much clearer understanding of the make-up universe than we do currently and therfore is better at blowing it up!" Dude. that line smacks of Pratchett! Well done.
"Federation, FUCK YEAH! Coming again to save the motherfuggin day, yeah!" Also, reminds me of The Simpsons episode where they use Ned's beach house, and the store clerk sells Homer a firework with the quip "Celebrate the birthing of your nation by blowing up a small part of it."
So what your saying is instead of anti matter like a photon torpedo. Quantum torpedoes are powers by a cat in a box? No wonder they're rare have you tried getting the little bastards into the boxes?
By Star Trek 6, you know McCoy has had enough. He helps Spock rig a photon torpedo, and he holds a phaser on the Romulan Ambassodor. " Lock and load !!."
@@attila535 Ya, it's comforting to know that a standard photon torpedo (1.5kg m/am) has a ~20% higher theoretical yield than the Tsar Bomba. And that factions in Trek just sorta casually fling them around all over the place.
@@attila535 Considering some of the original A-bomb researchers were uncertain if detonating one would start a chain reaction that would turn the Earth's atmosphere into a plasma cloud, Starfleet is just following an old Terran tradition.
I believe it was ECHenry who theorized that Quantums operate as you postulated, with the added analog to real world torpedoes that much of their destructive power is derived from the "cavitation" of its surroundings. In the case of our real ones, this is seawater while in Trek it would be space-time itself. This made me think that it imparts an exotic quality to the weapon's damage type, which is why it appears more effective against the Borg (i.e. in the Battle of Sector 001).
Quantum is the word equivalent to magic. Only difference is genre. Soft space opera vs. Fantasy. Just put quantum in something's name and it is cool and high sciencey-magickey to a degree Arthur C. Clarke would be proud.
I like it when Voyager's EMH when it was in emergeny command mode carried out a Phontonic Shockwave utilizing a photon torpedo and detonating it with phaser fire. I'm suprised that it hasn't been used again in either tv or film since.
I actually did my 2nd year theoretical physics dissertation on Star Trek vs Star Wars! I learned two things: 1) Physics and maths can make any subject boring, and: 2) Physics and maths both barely apply to Star Trek and Star Wars. One of the things I looked at in detail was photon and quantum torpedoes.
Back on "Enterprise," I wasn't totally onboard with the NX-01 installing "photonic torpedoes." Although I thought the initial missiles they originally they had seemed a little wonky and UNDER-powered for the 22nd century (the US Navy has more effective weapons), I would have preferred a more powerful, more advanced nuclear-based warhead to be consistent with previous Earth-Romulan War canon. It could be sleek, cool, and futuristic, without contradicting the canon. That said, these "photonic torpedoes" definitely should have been a different design, rather than looking identical to the 23rd and 24th century versions.
@@Bobo-ox7fj LOL, as the warhead is loaded, they pan the camera capturing the reactions of the crewmen in engineering who then look nervously over their shoulders at the warp core.
When a quantum torpedo detonates, some of the energy is used to compress the space around the weapon, weakening any energy shield/armor nearby then exploding out with increased force. It's like the difference between a stick of dynamite (photon torpedo) and a fragmentation grenade(quantum torpedo where space itself is the "shrapnel").
If I were to design a quantum torpedo, I would likely use something with a bit more “punch.” Why not produce a small quantum black hole of a few kilos to be held in a vacuum chamber within the mix chamber, and then add the mix? The small singularity would have to be below the implosion threshold, so it would instantly decay upon detonation. The addition of that kind of energy would make for a formidable weapon, indeed!
My personal theory is that the "magnetic bottle" that stores the antimatter for the photon torpedo is actually external to the mechanism. The light you see is from that magnetic bottle/force field.
What amazes me is how Gene Roddenberry/Star Trek had plausible science for every aspect of lore in the canon universe, not only did they expand ideas but they made them plausible by reasoning how this could be through science. Thats legendary. To create such outworldish ideas and then literally being able to scientifically justify these things down to the very molecule. Turns out, so much of what is in the show is literally on the horizon for us in science and tech. Decades ago we thought this would never happen and was farfetched. Now look at us!
In the beginning, ST: ENT only used torpedos. They didn’t know about “photonic torpedos” until they rescued the Klingons ship sinking into the atmosphere of a Jupiter type planet. They also didn’t start using photonic or photon torpedoes until season 3 of their show, but that was ONLY because their ship was fitted with them by the Vulcans. They didn’t come up with the technology by themselves.
ST: Ent completely screwed up the timeline, Photons were developed by humans but not as early as Ent, there was an episode in TOS where Kirk has to authorise their use as they were considered new and extremely powerful.
@@MrBabylon There's also Balance of Terror, where a fusion device is enough to threaten the Enterprise. As brilliant as that episode was, I rather prefer ENT's retcons to the timelines.
@@nessanderson6460 Well, the Photon yield is enough to "level a city", which is something a thermonuclear weapon could do as well pretty easily. So the real question is why the Enterprise could be hit by it more than if it could destroy the enterprise. The main advantage PTs have over our fusion weapons is size/weight being much much smaller for their yield.
These need more explanation but what i do know is cobalt is a naturally occurring heavy metal, in Enterprise it was stated there warp core was lined with it, the anti matter relays anyway and tri means three.. three heavy metal warheads? I'm guessing its similar to photons but the casing was extra solid.
my assumption is that a class one probe would be the lowest form with barely any sensors and maybe it could boost regular ship sensors. then as you move up in class the probe becomes more and more sophisticated. so a class 5 probe could do surface scanning of planets and then relaying the info to the main ship. class 6 or 7 could do long term stuff and have on board data alaysis, sample processing, and data storage so you could leave it in place and come back. then maybe class 9 and 10 could be akin to drone ships where you give it a preset path around a system and it does a mass survey then returns to a rondevouz point
Now explain why Voyager was carrying tricobalt devices in Caretaker. It was even noted in the show that the ship having them was highly unusual, but not explanation is ever given (unless you believe the conspiracy theories!)
It's good that after I've started watching DS9 I've found my way back here lol. Thank you very much for your videos. They've been helping me through a bit of a rough patch here lately. Stay well out there everybody, and God be with you, friends. :)
While obviously not canon, the Starfleet Command III manual took a pretty solid wack at quantum torpedoes: "As the photon torpedo reached what many Starfleet researchers agreed was its highest possible explosive yield, a group of engineers at the Starfleet R&D facility on Groombridge 273-2A began investigating methods for achieving a higher release of energy from a projectile of equal dimensions to the photon torpedo. The result is the quantum torpedo, which utilizes an eleven-dimensional space-time membrane suspended in ultra-clean vacuum within the projectile. The membrane is twisted into a string and then isolated from the background vacuum. This results in the creation of a new particle, which is accompanied by a tremendous release of energy."
One thing I've heard brought up is that with photons, you'll have heard all throughout Star Trek history "arm photon torpedoes" implying that they are stored in an unarmed state, usually described as having no antimatter onboard until "fueled" up as they're loaded into the launcher tubes. You hear that term far less often with quantum torpedoes and it's usually "load quantum torpedoes" implying that whatever is going on in them is far safer to store in a fully armed and ready state. Just a tidbit I've heard along the way.
Then the Alterans from Stargate must be way more technologically advanced than Starfleet, because when they mess with zero point energy whole star systems go boom
the best description I've seen of quantum torpedoes is as follows, and it deals with similar concepts to real-world naval torpedoes. When a naval torpedo detonates, it creates a shockwave, yes. But it also creates a cavity in the water from pushing things away. Once this happens, water rushes into this cavity because nature despises vacuums. This however results in pressurization of that pocket of water, and with the path of least resistance being upwards, the pressurized water surges upwards. This is what causes the massive vertical plumes of water you see when torpedoes detonate. Now on to the star trek bit. Quantum torpedoes detonate like normal photon torpedoes, but at the same time disrupt the quantum vacuum, somehow creating a pocket of no energy amidst the infinite and everpresent energy of the quantum vacuum. An energy that is normally at equilibrium, as it is not disrupted. But now, thanks to this torpedo, it has been. This causes energy to surge into the area around the detonation site, creating an area of very high energy density that adds to the already terrifyingly powerful explosion. In other words, the equivalent of the pressurized water from a naval torpedo. This is where a Quantum torpedo's additional yield comes from, because it capitalizes on this secondary effect.
So it's in partial at least an implosion weapon? which would suggest a sort of artificial micro-blackhole as a sort of central source for the 'not bang'?
@@kinagrill Not quite. The theory goes that the torpedo creates a disturbance in the quantum vacuum, which in turn causes additional problems for everyone at the blast site. I'm not the best at explaining. I did some digging, and found the orignal video I was thinking of: ruclips.net/video/3PmYb2dazfM/видео.html&ab_channel=ResurrectedStarships
The way Rick describes the torpedo dropping out of warp and slamming into the firing vessel, it seems like the Wiley Coyote version of Star Trek, with Acme Photon Torpedo stenciled on its casing. : )
One of the technical manuals quoted a photon torpedo to have 1.5kg of anitamatter. That should come up to about 64.4 Megatons assuming 100% efficiency in energy conversion. So that should allow for a good eyeball of their abilities.
Trying to make some sense of Torpedoes - it looks like one of the ways they can be tuned - is to either do splash damage to a ships shields to weaken them - or to do physical damage - and Physical damage can be kinetic or explosive - or to put it another way - you can hit it like a shot and leave the ship mainly intact - if the plan is to just knock the weapons systems out - or it can burrow into the ship and detonate inside like a bunker buster and blow the entire ship up - so when they say target engine or weapons the Torpedo may be tuned to NOT explode the ship - simply to immobilize that one system. Kinetic damage can be seen in Wrath of Khan - when a torpedo goes through the Enterprise's saucer without detonating.
@@90lancaster which by itself suggests the torpedo is definitely shielded and well shielded at that. Considering that a particularly impressive fart can get a matter/antimatter reaction going. Also considering its an omnidirectional explosive a contact detonation to the shield should transfer only 50% of its total energy to it, much as early tests on nukes in space during the cold war would suggest. That could probably explain why proximity explosions are rarely used, even at a short distance you're bleeding valuable boom boom. Although I can't for the life of me even technobabble bullshit up an explanation as to how exactly the make them adjustable boom without switching out the warhead for a different one.
@@kaloyankatzarov9284 Adjustable boom could be handled by some kind of regulator to change how much matter/antimatter is released into the mix which would change how big the boom is.
@@Loremaster85 theoretically yes, but when that boom goes off the containment field for the rest of the antimatter would be scuffed, which would release it and go for a full boom to begin with. But even if we assume that there is some technobabble way they do that, isn't that immensely in efficient and a waste of antimatter. Even if you magically only use like half a kilo of the antimatter, you're still wasting 1.5 kilo overall. Why not just put in a smaller warhead that has the specific amount, or even better make the warhead capable of adjusting the containment field and thus either sucking up excess antimatter, or putting more in.
The Torpedoes likely make more sense than EPS conduits or Structural Integrity shielding does - as "logically" they shouldn't allow the Hull breaches we see until the ship is really wreck (something Discovery actually got more correct perhaps - as we see the Shinzhou's area shielding actually works properly.
I had always thought of the evolution of photon to quantum torpedoes as being similar to the evolution from fission to fusion bombs: In the case of the fusion bomb, a fission bomb generates the necessary energy states (heat and pressure) to initiate the fusion reaction. I had assumed that in the case of the the quantum torpedo, an initial mater/antimatter reaction provided the necessary energy to open some sort of rift on the quantum level and release energy from another level of reality into normal space. Oddly enough, that's somewhat similar to what was at one point the official theory for how fireballs worked in Dungeons and Dragons: the spell generated a tiny aperture into the Elemental Plan of Fire, wrapped in a protective bubble, which was then impelled toward the target. Unfortunately for wizards with low situational awareness, the bubble had roughly the durability of a soap bubble for any purpose other than keeping the aperture stable, and would burst if it struck any obstacle on the way. When the bubble popped, the aperture would collapse, releasing a spherical belch of elemental fire as it did so. This was a handwavium retro-explanation for why a fireball (as handled in game mechanics) would generate heat and ignite combustibles, but not do any blast damage or generate concussive force, but it was still a cool little "our explosions don't work like your explosions" bit of flavor.
There is a definite break down of warp speeds though. At least as it applies to TOS and NG. It was published in the NextGen tech-manual back in the 90's.
So get this. Quantum torpedo's according to what you just said, are a vacuum torpedo. Except they create a vacuum of space time itself, literally creating a negative energy in another dimension. which would create a massive positive explosion of energy in this dimension. THATS SOO COOL. Who would have thought of such a thing!! Major props to the Star Trek writers.
The best explanation I have seen that explains it is photon torpedos are like a real torpedo from a submarine striking a target on the surface of the water whereas quantum torpedoes are like a torpedo detonated underwater where is creates a bubble which is much more devastating.
I was just watching a video about how Voyager used more torpedoes than they had. They simply stopped to resupply. Once they land on this demon planet for fuel.
10:10 to 10:20. Congratulations, you’ve just explained Voyager. Very appropriate to show it on screen during this time range. The tongue-in-cheek sarcasm is absolutely palpable.
I always thought it was just a naming convention, sort of like how all Unix systems don't use numbers to indicate subsequent versions but instead use names like 'Jellybean' or 'Cotton Candy'.
... there was an episode of ST: Enterprise where they were rescuing a Klingon cruiser and Mr. Reed found an interesting torpedo design on the bridges tactical display - could this be the leap we are looking for? ...
The way I have heard quantum torpedoes explained that made the most sense to me was this: They are like underwater torpedoes in how they work. A torpedo underwater strikes the target and explodes, dealing explosive damage. it also shoves all the water around it away, creating a negative space which the water then forces itself violently back into, dealing additional damage to the spot the torpedo just impacted. This applies to quantum torpedoes because they deform the vacuum or subspace or some shit and then it crashes back down, rebounding and doing more damage at almost the same instant or some shit.
In our RPG we also established a "reason" everyone moves away from "space nukes" AKA atomic bombs. They're very, very messy. In our game the old impact nukes used "small"impulse engines to get to a high speed quickly, then use the impact to ram the two fissile halves together. (One half plus one half equals too much.) Already at half C or higher, this created an hourglass shaped plume instantly tens of miles wide and initially blocking all forms off detection there. Minutes later light, starting in the infrared, is the first thing to dissipate (This is why space ships have visual screens on the bridge.) followed by the heavy ions etc. spreading out for months, until the cloud (and debris if you didn't hit an interceptor) is thin enough to be passed through without caution. Impulse era nukes also ran the risk of catching the shooter in his own backwash. It worked for us.
@@goo2098 I didn't even attempt to watch it last season. It was a stretch to get me to watch S2, after the intergalactic fungus highway bullshit. Super future meets old af is a boring trope, and once i heard about "the burn" I decided that was only going to end with something smooth brained. Thanks for saving me time
@@cruss4612 I didn't really want to either, you're right their ideas are crap but when it comes to Sci-fi we don't have alot of choices. Time travel, future, whatever writers introduce when they're running out of ideas.
I want to see a plot where the "energy shockwaves between dimensions" bit gets the Federation in trouble. Like, the interdimensional equivalent of their apartment neighbor banging on the wall, shouting at them to stop playing loud music in the middle of the night.
Quantum torpedoes are really interesting in that _in theory_ they are taking energy from alternate dimensions, which could have detrimental "environmental" effects that are unobservable from this side, and there are significant moral questions around their use. Starfleet, I suspect, is aware of it, and would normally _not_ use such a thing, but the Borg threat required unusual solutions.
No, they are twisting/distorting dimensions, no mention is made of "alternate" dimensions (which would more properly be called alternate realities). They're changing the shapes of up and down and forward and backward and time - *THOSE* dimensions.
@@a-blivvy-yus Let me start by saying that I don't think they've ever _definitively_ given a super detailed explanation in-canon, it's been intentionally left a little vague for story reasons. That said, I have a strong recollection of them using the term zero-point energy, which is drawn from a vacuum state. In most multiverse theories, zero-point energy does come from adjacent dimensions. Changing up/down/time is already what a Photon does, being a high energy matter-antimatter explosion. Those are all dimensions we "normally" interact with. I will freely acknowledge that Quantum energy _might_ come from other dimensions that we are unaware of that aren't parallel and are "completely safe" but if we assume that the only other dimensions beyond space (up down etc.) and time are alternate realities, those alternate realities are where zero-point energy comes from.
@@jameyhej3 Yeah, that's not how zero point energy works in any theory, multiverse or otherwise. The idea is that zero point energy exists independently within each universe, not that it's tied to multiverses in multiverse theory. There is an idea that the energy is potentially bound up in other dimensions (NOT alternate realities) within string theory's 10 and 11 dimensional models, which might be where you're getting confused. Also, the idea behind photon torpedoes is *NOT* the distortion of dimensions directly, it's the annihilation of matter and antimatter into high-energy photons (which is something which can be verified to happen irl but we've only ever done it on incredibly tiny scales). Quantum torpedoes supposedly use that huge amount of released energy to bend spacetime in a way that allows an equivalent amount of the zero point energy to become accessible, making the blast more powerful by essentially doubling the power it produces. Half the destructive power is from the photon detonation and the other half from an equivalent release of zero point energy caused by distorting spacetime using the explosion's energy to make itself bigger. Also, again, "dimension" is not the proper term for an alternative reality anyway.
@@a-blivvy-yus I appreciate the detailed response, and I think I perhaps I failed to properly convey the first sentence of mine, which is that there's more than one theory here and ST canon has left it intentionally vague. I fully understand the model you are assuming, and I appreciate you taking the time to fully disclose it so that I know where you're coming from. I agree, your interpretation is _one of_ the valid choices. However, physics does not have a fully working theoretical model for zero-point energy, and the your suggestion that "there isn't one that uses alternate dimensions" is one of the two bits of your response I have issue with, because that, in point of fact, is a theory. And I know this because I am positive I didn't make it up. At the end of the day we don't know exactly where or what zero-point energy is nor where it comes from. Maybe it's just there for the taking, or maybe it has to come from "somewhere else." The second is you keep saying "alternate realities" is the correct term, but "alternate dimensions" is not less valid, because these are all purely theoretical models. The R.B. Fuller 9 dimension model easily supports the notion that higher order (10+) dimensions could actually be parallel realities, and in that model, calling them "alternate dimensions" would be the correct technical term. Some higher order dimensional models all the dimensions exist in the same reality, so I will concede that in that model "alternate reality" would be more accurate. But you can only assume which is the accurate term by also assuming the model, and we're both looking at this from completely different dimensional models. TL;DR: Agree to disagree, but I fully understand and acknowledge that your assumption is internally consistent and therefore a valid option.
@@jameyhej3 You seem to be getting dark matter/energy (they're different but have been explained in similar terms in this particular regard in different proposals) and zero point energy mixed up. There is an idea that if you move far enough in a dimension other than the 4 we can perceive, you could end up "out of phase" with normal physical reality, intangible and invisible to most forms of detection. There are theories which propose that this is why we can't detect dark matter or energy (none suggesting it to be the case for both, only one or the other), but this *ISN'T* the idea behind zero point energy. It's worth mentioning that none of those proposals have made it to a "theory" level in themselves, though they are considered valid possible explanations for aspects of existing theories and things to potentially be tested for in future. Zero point energy is a specific concept which can also sometimes be called vacuum energy. The idea behind it is that even empty space has a non-zero amount of energy which allows it to theoretially fluctuate both up *AND* down from its resting energy level. Some of the energy and its amount might be defined by the existence and number of other dimensions but it isn't "in" another dimension or in an alternate reality according to any actual scientific model that has ever been proposed and taken seriously, let alone reached the level of being a recognised theory. The concept of zero point energy is somewhat required for a lot of theories involving quantum fields and the nature of particles as field fluctuations, so it's widely regarded as likely by those who support the idea of quantum physics, whether they use a 10+ dimensional string theory model or not. It's also worth noting that while Fuller was alive, there was only classical 3 or 4-dimensional physics and what's now known as bosonic string theory (just string theory at the time), which has 26 dimensions. Superstring theory (which is what most people now refer to when saying string theory) showed up around the time he died, and used 10 dimensions with some newer sub-theories using 11. Any model of string theory requires time to be a dimension so you can't even justify calling them 9 dimensional models the way people call classical physics a 3 dimensional model by ignoring time. There is no scientific model that's been considered a serious theory in the past 100 years which uses a number of dimensions that isn't 3, 4, or 10+. Trek canon has left it intentionally vague, but *NOT* in any way that leaves zero point energy open to being energy pulled out of alternate realities. There's also no model where it could be energy which is bound up in an out-of-phase state which could be seen as a pseudo-alternate reality (without any matter which behaves anything like that in our normal perceptible reality) like some proposals about dark matter or energy (but again, not both) suggest them to be.
I think originally Quantums were envisioned as a plasma weapon based on VGER's projectiles, similar to what Romulans used in BoT. Something that was tied directly into and fed from the warp drive/core. They were unguided, didn't have a physical shell, but were really good as a close-in weapon against large targets like Borg Cubes. Then they became just like regular torpedoes, only blue and better. They were *not* trying to replace the iconic and versatile photon torpedoes. They wanted to introduce a little something when they got really down dirty with a foe.
It was a 1980s-era movie showing off the very latest in 1950s-era technology. Awful props for stuff like machinery, controls, and computer screens. Even kids with paper-route money and Radio Shack parts and C64 computers could build cooler-looking "future" equipment at home. Disappointing details.
Photon is just as much technobabble. As described, they're matter/antimatter torps, but that's longer and doesn't sound as cool. At least they didn't get saddled with "laser torpedoes" like some movies used. I suspect Robert Whitehead would object to any of this pseudoscientific gadgetry being called a torpedo if he were around to make an objection - or at the very least, demand some royalties.
Warp field sustainers are really useful, as it allows for not just torpedoes but shuttles and small craft to be carried on a larger ship. Launched, exit the warp field then "coast" on the sustained warp field to a destination. Some "experiments" were done with static warp fields with the idea being that a station, could generate a static warp field, itself, then a shuttle could launch, pick that up, and travel off at warp to another station. The concept with this would allow ships to do short range hops from station to station, outpost to outpost, without requiring a warp drive on the ship. Even without this though, the ability for a starship traveling at warp, to "drop" non warp shuttles which could then proceed into systems along a ships route, has huge logistics and transport benefits. A ship does not have to "divert", slow down, launch shuttles, or use tranporters, then leave for a lot of missions, they zip "near" a star system, maybe 9-15 light years out, dropping a shuttle, then on the way back, then zip into the system, pick up the shuttle and continue on their way. This is a lot cheaper, and in many ways safer for these small ships to "project power"... in survey or exploration, where a team may need to speed weeks doing something, the shuttle can carry out the mission without the main ship having to enter the system on the first pass.
At one point, quantum torpedoes could phase in and out of space time, able to phase past shielding and hull to deliver a direct, internal explosion INSIDE the enemy ship... but then in the movies, they became standard torpedoes with a blue hue... so who knows? Me personally, i like the idea that they can go through shielding and hull, as it would make sense.
I would like to add one little thing. In the Star Trek the Next Generation Technical Manual (Not strictly cannon cannon I know but Ric here cites the DS9 tech manual) photon torpedoes are said to be stored in magazines and are safe as they contain no fuel/warhead materials. As a torpedo is loaded into a launcher some of the ships matter and antimatter fuels are loaded onto them. This prevents a situation of a malfunction or other unforeseen disaster from occurring of them "just going off" seeing as a single torpedo going off inside the ship would be catastrophic if not outright destroy it. An entire magazine of dozens or hundreds going off (because if one goes all they'll all go off) would *obliterate* the ship. The matter/antimatter load also acts as the fuel for the torpedo so the farther they travel the less yield they have at detonation (up to 3.5 million kilometers for nominal yield etc). If a torpedo is unloaded from a launcher the matter/antimatter is removed. So, torpedoes are 100% safe and harmless in their magazines. They're only "armed and ready" when they've been loaded into a launcher.
Old Trekkie here, emphasis on old, so I maybe misremembering. However I recall some episode or film where "arming torpedoes" was a thing that took a bit of time once "red alert" was sounded. They weren't instantly available. I wonder if torpedoes in storage actually don't have their antimatter loaded but this is done once a ship goes into combat - hence the "arming" of torpedoes. When they "arm" torpedoes they are actually adding the antimatter charge to the weapon (possibly from the warp core) making the weapon "live" and ready to fire. This would drastically improve safety as having hundreds of small antimatter pods that could breach at any time sounds unreasonably dangerous.
I recall reading that, at least with Klingons, their torpedos aren't loaded with antimatter, so when a Klingon ship fires, they inject the antimatter from their ships reserves just before they fire. That's why their torpedos tubes glow a bit longer before they fire. The same could be said for Starfleet torpedoes but I think it was more like they had to physically load the torpedos, like on current day submarines.
if i recall, the quantum torpedo uses some sort of membrane that makes the matter/antimatter conversion more efficient, making more of it annihilate proton to antiproton.
Amazing tech. In the Army some time ago, the most destructive weapon I had fired short of a howitzer was a 90mm recoilless rifle that fired a shell with a shaped charge warhead. I'm pretty sure I understood the science behind it, but I would never be able to grasp the mechanics of a photon or quantum torpedo.
its a pleasure to watch these videos. also from what i understood from the lore the photon is a matter antimatter explosion. a quantum torpedo destroys the ability of the sub atomic particles even the strange quarkes and stuff it does get to the smallest particles. transphasic torpedos are a bit out of sync with time so when fired the shield of now cannot defend against a torpedo of the slight future or past i understood them as that
Resurrected starships theorised Quantum torpedoes had a similar effect to actual torpedo's forming a 'bubble' of zero point energy (the stuff that makes up the universe) and collapsing it creating a huge shockwave which is perfect for tearing borg cubes apart.
I get the impression that the original intent (in the original series) was that photon torpedoes were just balls of energy, or light - aka photons. Hence the name, and how they *look*, which is a big ball of light (hence: "photon"). I think that since they figured since laser (or "phaser") beams (energy) replaced physical bullets...then physical torpedoes could be replaced with balls of energy too.
Anybody remember the PC game Starfleet Command 3 from the early 2000s where you could go in and change the power of your weapons and shields? I loved that game. Plenty of time playing that game on my deployments.
If 1g of antimatter equals 43 kilotons of TNT, then 1.5 kg of antimatter equals about 60 megatons. If 25 isotons equals 60 megatons, then 1 isoton equals 2.4 megatons. Also, why the convoluted intermix thing? Just have the magnetic bottle switch off. There. Fixed it. Your welcome.
That seems oddly low. The largest nuclear warhead ever detonated was 50 megatons, so Star Trek's photon torpedos aren't actually that powerful (at least by 24th century standards) as they are only as powerful as a (very large) hydrogen bomb.
It has to do with how the explosion is shaped over (a very short period of time) If it was a straight immediate 1-1 reaction you might risk the torpedo blowing itself up more than the target due to the way anti-matter is destroying matter at a 1-1 ratio the torpedo casing masses more than the ant-mater it carries - you want the torpedo to either dump that energy onto the target or the shield in a particular - way - also controlling the rate and shape of explosions is something done now with Nuclear weapons & even shaped explosive charges - so it's kinda like that only with a magnetic or subspace field. If the Torpedo just converted itself to gamma radiation that isn't that damaging really to some decent shields - heck imaging you are shooting at an asteroid - and all the torpedo did was convert itself to gamma radiation - it would only damage the surface a little and irradiate it if it wasn't minutely controllable - Sure the radiation is moving at a certain velocity from the explosion and contains some energy - but it's not ideal if it eats itself and not the target.
![Tee Grizzley - Detroit (Feat. 42 Dugg) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/aeKfTtt0x14/mqdefault.jpg)
"By 2371 the Federation has a much clearer understanding of the make up of the universe than we do currently and therefor is better at blowing it up." Best. Quote. Ever.
or imploding it with red matter🤣
@@raven4k998 Just One Drop!
Spongebob eat your heart out!
Best quote of 2020 from certifiably ingame
Sounds like the type of quote that you might find in 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. 😂
'You hit the wrong ship'
'It's not my fault'
'Whose fault is it? _The torpedo's!?_ You have to tell it what to do!!'
"Two holograms, alone..."
The ultimate insult to a Hologram; "Were you programmed by Microsoft??!!".
@@CZ350tuner Or had its emitter produced by Google.
@@That80sGuy1972 if google made the emitters they'd have only been available for 2 years then after being discontinued every holodeck in existence would stop working because the manufacturer's servers were turned off.
Every DD captain in world of warships.
I like the raspberry ones best but I hear they're easy to jam.
"We've been jammed!"
"LONE STARR!!!!"
We've lost the bleeps, the sweeps and the creeps.
Bleeps sweeps creeps
@@paullynchlfc1263 thank you
@@cameronmonaghan6883 The what, the what and the what?
The original draft of Star Trek: First Contact had a massive Borg fleet being blown away by salvos of *Quantum torpedoes,* that acted like Transphasic torpedoes did at the end of Voyager on Cubes. And even the new Sovereign class was going to have twin Gatling pulse phaser cannons (on either side of the Saucer Section) that would devastate Cubes because each shot was a different frequency.
Picard would then warn the Borg that if they didn't cease their attack, they would be destroyed as they were outclassed.
Thus the whole time travel plot was then a Hail Mary by the Borg to eliminate a potential threat.
And when the estimated budget for that whole sequence with hundreds of StarFleet ships fighting hundreds of Cubes was calculated, the producers went "couldn't we just have one Cube?"
Interesting. Unfortunately, leaving the time travel plot in after that gives the Borg a certain Bond-villain stupidity. Collective: "Last time our invasion was almost at it's goal when our ship was destroyed by a daring Starfleet mission and our own terrible cyber security." Any decent military leader ever: "Hmm-send maybe five ships that ought to do the trick." The Collective: "Let's create a complicated time travel device and try to assimilate them in the past. Even though we've never done that before and it could mess up our own past."
That would have been a really terrible movie.
barring the budget i think it was the borgs pride and idea that they could adapt to anything hence send only one cube. but i know it has to do with budget reasons
Well even budget aside, the movie is better without that. For the borg to be effective villains they need to be unassailable with brute force, trying to merely overpowering them can’t work. You need to outsmart them. If starfleet was ever able to just blow them up with big boom weapons, they wouldn’t be a threat anymore.
Were episodes of Voyager with many cubes on screen assimilating worlds that were in no way as technologically. advanced as the federation! So to send single cubes to earth multiple times is just insane! Plot armor and a pen make for the story though! Lol
"Physics begins to demand to know just what the hell your playing at and begins to drag you back down to natural speed limits" made me laugh way more than it should and should be put on a shirt.
That was the first thing I thought of when he said a torpedo can be launched at warp speed, that the rest of the universe is going to _NOPE_ the heck out of that, and probably slap you for trying.
Like the old billboards out beyond the orbit of Neptune used to say: "300 million meters per second - it's not just a good idea, IT'S THE LAW."
bad day if one of them had a faulty power core for the warp bubble to be sustained.
Would be nice to also compare it to Romulan plasma torpedoes and difference from those.
@@daveh7720 that is still technically FASTER than the speed of light in a vacuum thought.
@@jamesjellis By how much?
"So how do Heisenberg Compensators work?"
"Very well, thanks!"
I remember seeing that 😂😂
Micheal Okuda quote?
@@Menaceblue3 Jupp
by taking advantage of quantum entanglement and math. lol
First, you turn it on, then you never mention them again.
What I knew before the vid:
In ST:Legacy - "They Penetrate Shields...?"
In ST:Online - "They... Hit Harder...?"
In ST:Media - "They... They're Blue...?"
Wait, maybe Quantums are lower yield, environmentally safe subspace weapons like Tricobalts. And all the technobabble is there to disguise that Starfleet is mass producing and using banned weaponry.
I think "They are Blue" has a degree of truth to them - Though at least they make more sense than why and exploding starship carring all that anti-matter doesn't make a bigger explosion or what "Photonic Charges" are or why 24th century ships can't fly backwards at warp and 23rd century ones can.
Though I guess you could say that A Photon Torpedo goes "Boom" & a Quantum Torpedo goes "Quantum Boom"
@@90lancaster love the quantum boom.
@@canisblack I thought subspace weapons were banned by the Khitomer accords?
@@90lancaster "why 24th century ships can't fly backwards at warp and 23rd century ones can." maybe because the dampeners and improvement of ship manoeuvring allows to quick turn a ship mid warp instead of forcing it to accelerate backwards? And also nacelles lose efficiency if they are dual mode vs one way only?
Upgrading from Photon to Quantum was such a Leap that I'm sure Capt. Archer was involved.
this is an underappreciated beauty of a pun.
(golf clap 👏 and nod for you) bravo.
Oh, boy!
This is a masterpiece!
I see what you did, there.
BOOO!! :)
Starfleet: "Hmmm, vacuum decay sounds terrifying. Let's do it on purpose!"
And yet we're still not allowed to use protomatter.
At least it's not a Quantum Omega Particle Torpedo :/
@@daveh7720 *the Lukari enter chat*
@@Corbomite_Meatballs That's what bugs me about it. We get in trouble for using it, the Tzenkethi get in trouble for using it, but Kuumaarke is a regular 25th Century Martha Stewart with the stuff.
It's not Starfleet, its humans. And it's why the Vulcans let us run things. Because we do Weird Fucking Shit just because why not? Got two warp cores? Ask for a third, smash them together, punch a hole into another universe, get mad because they decided to plan to do the same shit but with FOUR warp cores, fight them, steal their cores, punch a second hole to get home, turn a star into christmas bauble in the process then go have brunch.
Photon Torpedoes: "I am the staple of high yield weaponry."
Quantum Torpedoes: "I am the biggest weapon in the Alpha Quadrant!"
Transphasic Torpedoes: "Awww, you guys are SO cute! Yes you are."
Temporal Torpedos say "Hi" too
Multikinetic neutronic mine: What?, I'm not laughing honest
My own head-canon on the transphasic torpedoes was that they cause the explosion to randomly phase through various quantum frequencies (for lack of a better word) throughout the explosion, making them _impossible_ for the Borg to adapt to. Basically no two explosions of a transphasic torpedo are even remotely similar, and therefore impossible to predict or counter.
Self replicating wormhole mines: YO! no pass wormhole HAHA!
@@nagash303 ...... with self cloaking capabilities
Quantum Torpedo in a nutshell: It's a two-stage warhead analogous to a Thermonuclear warhead. They use the regular torpedo detonation to 'pinch' spacetime and cause it to release zero-point vacuum energy equal to the yield of the original reactant mass. Essentially a dimensional distortion bomb.
There, now was that so hard?
Your comment reminds me of that quote about "if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"
@@a-blivvy-yus
Rick did repeat, several times, that the 'science' behind Quantum Torpedoes didn't click for him. So I don't blame him. But it does require you at least know what the theory for zero point energy is. And that theory simply states in many more words that what we consider the absolute zero background resting state of the universe is not in fact empty of energy. That the existence of space itself inherently has energy. Energy you could theoretically tap into if you know how to do it.
Based on the description of the Quantum Torpedo alone, I can see exactly what the writers did when they fleshed out the specifics. It works like a sci-fi thermonuclear bomb. In the case of a thermonuke, you detonate a uranium or plutonium fission bomb and use the casing of the weapon as a focusing lense to direct the energy of the blast onto the fusion element. That energy is utilized to create the pressure and temperature needed to trigger the fusion element, producing an exponentially larger blast. I know it seems strange to imagine 'focusing' a nuclear blast to do this, but the material of the casing does its job JUST long enough before everything is vaporized in a few hundredths of a second.
The quantum torpedo is running on a the same kind of chain. You use the energy released by the matter-antimatter reaction and focus it through some kind of channel or construct designed to pinch/pull/rip/tear/coax/beg sweet forgiveness spacetime itself, and in typical Treknobabble, it releases double the kaboom for the yield. The 'quantum' in Quantum Torpedo comes from the fact that this construct focuses at a quantum point. That is, the size level at which your energy is arranged into individual quantifiable packets. (See: 'Quanta' and 'Quantized' for associated words). Speaking in computer programming, the 'quantum' level of scale of ANY computer program would be a single bit. Which is tiny.
Obviously, if how shoving a bunch of gamma radiation into a quantum point translated into cracking space time open to spill out zero-point vacuum energy for real, we'd ALREADY have quantum torpedoes. So really, the nature of the quantum reaction and the construct that focuses it is the Black Box of this particular treknobabble. So there's no use postulating past that unless you want a nobel prize for figuring out a technology we can't apply anyway. (Not enough antimatter has been produced in the history of science itself to make a firecracker, let alone a photon/quantum torpedo.)
Anyway, while double yield isn't a lot here compared to the EXPONENTIAL yield of a thermonuke compared to a fission bomb, it does present Starfleet ships with a two-for-one discount on firepower. Double your max yield per torpedo without changing the casing profile or reengineering the launchers to be bigger, or getting regular yield out of the torpedo with half your reactant mass, which can be useful in fuel economy scenarios.
The yield improvement also increases the probability the torpedo will penetrate shields. The profile of the weapon hasn't changed, so the energy concentration per surface area at the impact point is considerably higher. I don't need to explain to you the significance of hitting a nail with a regular carpentry hammer vs hitting a nail with a 40 lb sledgehammer (assuming you're accurate enough).
@@atigerclaw Just to be clear, I wasn't saying I blame him or that he has any obligation to be a theoreticl physicist to be a Trek RUclipsr, the video's great! I'm just complimenting you on how efficiently you managed to simplify the concept. Because it's awesome and really shows that you know what you're talking about. As does the more thorough explanation, so thanks for proving my point.
release zero-point vacuum energy doubling the yield of the original reactant mass.
@@atigerclaw That was... BEAUTIFUL! I know next to nothing about this field, and what I do know, I could understand in your writing, and what I didn't, you broke it down to where I could get it. Bravo, indeed! 10/10 will read again and again.
As a side note, I would say the size of the striking face of a 40lbs sledge would make up a bit for an amount of lacking of accuracy :P
Stargate has entered the chat: “Did someone say Zero Point Energy?”
Syndrome has also entered the chat. "Hey, I invented that! Really cool huh?"
you mean over glorified batteries
@@Baughbe “go home, buddy”
Isaac Kleiner: why, yes!
They found the ZPM's but couldn't make them. Once they were depleted, they could only be thrown away.
Theory: Photon and Quantum are really just sexy model names given by Big Torpedo in order to sell more of them to the UFP.
Anyone reading this on a Galaxy phone can leave their appreciative 👍 below.
I upgraded, I'm on a Sovereign phone now.
Galaxy X phone here.
...ok ok fine, 9+
@@HeadlessChickenTO you have it good. I have m01
I still use my old, but reliable miranda phone, thank you very much
I have that new Odyssey phone. Bulky as hell, but it packs a punch when it needs to.
Your narration style reminds me of Richard Hammond. I'm glad I've found your channel.
I was in a bad spot last year, my wife was really sick(covid actually but it was early on so dr's didn't know) and I came across this channel. I went back and watched his star trek online videos and for about 2 weeks every night after work I would bing watch them! The commentary is so on point! Rick's a good dude! If I ever find myself on his part of the planet im buying him a beer!
No need to be insulting
Hamster
@@johnlewis8156 sorry about your wife. How's she doing now?
I hear he's also recently gotten his teeth whitened.
Long ago in Star Trek Online, Photons had the added effect of disabling crew and Quantums KILLED your crew. They eventually got rid of the "crew" game mechanic entirely - because the alternative was giving crew loss real consequences and the power players would never have tolerated that.
and the Scimitar's Thaleron Pulse, which came out a little before they cut the crew mechanic, was the reason why. losing crew meant your ship was less battle-ready, and the Thaleron pulse did massive damage to the ship and killed the entire crew.
I kinda liked the crew loss mechanic, and miss it a little.
I’m sure that was in Star Trek Armada , i don’t recall it being in STO at the start though.
"The point is, by 2371 the Federation has a much clearer understanding of the make-up universe than we do currently and therfore is better at blowing it up!" Dude. that line smacks of Pratchett! Well done.
"Federation, FUCK YEAH! Coming again to save the motherfuggin day, yeah!"
Also, reminds me of The Simpsons episode where they use Ned's beach house, and the store clerk sells Homer a firework with the quip "Celebrate the birthing of your nation by blowing up a small part of it."
In Pratchett's Discworld novel "Pyramids," when asked what "quantum" means, the answer is "just add another naught."
if this doesn't sum up humanity in one line idk what does lmao
Same thought came to me as well. Definitely a Terry Pratchett style quote.
General Green would be proud.
9:00 quantum torpedos aren't rare, their existence is just uncertain
Underrated comment
You're thinking of De Broglie Torpedoes. Quantum torpedoes are all over the place, they're just too small to see.
So what your saying is instead of anti matter like a photon torpedo. Quantum torpedoes are powers by a cat in a box?
No wonder they're rare have you tried getting the little bastards into the boxes?
Schrodinger's Torpedo?
@@sarahscott5305 They're having a sale on them at Quark's.
Don't forget the time a photon torpedo casing was used to transport a Klingon Ambassador and Worf's mate.
I think that was the class 8 probe pictured.
So was that a trans marrytime spacial event? Did worf really mate a trans hybrid? I'm begining to understand those who claimed star trek was gay.
Don’t forget when Dr McCoy assisted Spock in performing surgery on a photon torpedo.
It was FASCINATING!
Yes. But it was SULU'S ship that was cataloguing the gaseous anomalies NOT the Enterprise. (Ref Uhura's "It's gotta have a tail pipe" line)
We've got a heartbeat!
She's ready Jim. Lock and load.
.....Fire✊
By Star Trek 6, you know McCoy has had enough. He helps Spock rig a photon torpedo, and he holds a phaser on the Romulan Ambassodor. " Lock and load !!."
@@johnbockelie3899 agreed, in his mind he was probably counting down the days to retirement.
"Localized False Vacuum Decay Torpedo" (see Kurzgesagt) just doesn't roll off the tongue quite as nicely as "Quantum Torpedo" does it?
The Federation loves to play with universe edning fire doesn't it.
@@attila535 Ya, it's comforting to know that a standard photon torpedo (1.5kg m/am) has a ~20% higher theoretical yield than the Tsar Bomba. And that factions in Trek just sorta casually fling them around all over the place.
@@JammyPajammies
Thats why we can't have nice things...or can we?
@@attila535 Considering some of the original A-bomb researchers were uncertain if detonating one would start a chain reaction that would turn the Earth's atmosphere into a plasma cloud, Starfleet is just following an old Terran tradition.
Could have called it an LFVD torpedo. And while elfeedee rolls off the tongue easier, it still sounds stupid.
2:50 For bonus points, the torpedo will still be set to your shield frequency, so they won't stop it.
I defintely love the Quantum torpedoes a superior choice.
I believe it was ECHenry who theorized that Quantums operate as you postulated, with the added analog to real world torpedoes that much of their destructive power is derived from the "cavitation" of its surroundings. In the case of our real ones, this is seawater while in Trek it would be space-time itself. This made me think that it imparts an exotic quality to the weapon's damage type, which is why it appears more effective against the Borg (i.e. in the Battle of Sector 001).
I just liked when they'd say Full Spread! It sounded cool👍
Birthday s we get the photon buffet Christmas's we go quantum.
'Quantum' is just another word for "Dude, I don't know. It just works. Get off my back!"
@ShoeUnited Yes, Isolinear chips and such, so they are basically linear chips like the ones we use now.
Quantum is the word equivalent to magic. Only difference is genre. Soft space opera vs. Fantasy. Just put quantum in something's name and it is cool and high sciencey-magickey to a degree Arthur C. Clarke would be proud.
I like it when Voyager's EMH when it was in emergeny command mode carried out a Phontonic Shockwave utilizing a photon torpedo and detonating it with phaser fire. I'm suprised that it hasn't been used again in either tv or film since.
I actually did my 2nd year theoretical physics dissertation on Star Trek vs Star Wars!
I learned two things:
1) Physics and maths can make any subject boring, and:
2) Physics and maths both barely apply to Star Trek and Star Wars.
One of the things I looked at in detail was photon and quantum torpedoes.
So... dare I ask... who wins in a fight between Star Wars and Star Trek?
@@jolan_tru
That answer took me 30,000 words. How much time you got?
Back on "Enterprise," I wasn't totally onboard with the NX-01 installing "photonic torpedoes." Although I thought the initial missiles they originally they had seemed a little wonky and UNDER-powered for the 22nd century (the US Navy has more effective weapons), I would have preferred a more powerful, more advanced nuclear-based warhead to be consistent with previous Earth-Romulan War canon. It could be sleek, cool, and futuristic, without contradicting the canon. That said, these "photonic torpedoes" definitely should have been a different design, rather than looking identical to the 23rd and 24th century versions.
@Darth Revan - True
Would have been amusing if they had looked exactly like miniature NX warp cores
@@Bobo-ox7fj LOL, as the warhead is loaded, they pan the camera capturing the reactions of the crewmen in engineering who then look nervously over their shoulders at the warp core.
When a quantum torpedo detonates, some of the energy is used to compress the space around the weapon, weakening any energy shield/armor nearby then exploding out with increased force. It's like the difference between a stick of dynamite (photon torpedo) and a fragmentation grenade(quantum torpedo where space itself is the "shrapnel").
If I were to design a quantum torpedo, I would likely use something with a bit more “punch.”
Why not produce a small quantum black hole of a few kilos to be held in a vacuum chamber within the mix chamber, and then add the mix?
The small singularity would have to be below the implosion threshold, so it would instantly decay upon detonation. The addition of that kind of energy would make for a formidable weapon, indeed!
@@dangeary2134 Point Singularity Cannons from Andromeda.
woahhh space tike fabric as the shrapnel
My personal theory is that the "magnetic bottle" that stores the antimatter for the photon torpedo is actually external to the mechanism. The light you see is from that magnetic bottle/force field.
Then there are the Borg killers.
Those are transphasic torpedoes
I read in one of the books that the transphasic torpedoes overload the Borg's Vinculum and the ship self destructs automatically.
Yeah the Deus Ex Torpedo.
Pah!
I was literally wanting a video on this after playing in Star Trek online , so as magic of RUclips and a great channel here it is !
"it can't be both. Or can it?" Sounds like quantum is a suitable name to me.
🤘😜🤘 ohh yeah listening while an ad is on for Enterprise
What amazes me is how Gene Roddenberry/Star Trek had plausible science for every aspect of lore in the canon universe, not only did they expand ideas but they made them plausible by reasoning how this could be through science. Thats legendary. To create such outworldish ideas and then literally being able to scientifically justify these things down to the very molecule. Turns out, so much of what is in the show is literally on the horizon for us in science and tech. Decades ago we thought this would never happen and was farfetched. Now look at us!
In the beginning, ST: ENT only used torpedos. They didn’t know about “photonic torpedos” until they rescued the Klingons ship sinking into the atmosphere of a Jupiter type planet. They also didn’t start using photonic or photon torpedoes until season 3 of their show, but that was ONLY because their ship was fitted with them by the Vulcans. They didn’t come up with the technology by themselves.
ST: Ent completely screwed up the timeline, Photons were developed by humans but not as early as Ent, there was an episode in TOS where Kirk has to authorise their use as they were considered new and extremely powerful.
@@MrBabylon photonic are not the same as photon
@@MrBabylon There's also Balance of Terror, where a fusion device is enough to threaten the Enterprise. As brilliant as that episode was, I rather prefer ENT's retcons to the timelines.
@@nessanderson6460 Well, the Photon yield is enough to "level a city", which is something a thermonuclear weapon could do as well pretty easily. So the real question is why the Enterprise could be hit by it more than if it could destroy the enterprise.
The main advantage PTs have over our fusion weapons is size/weight being much much smaller for their yield.
@@MrBabylon I think that may have been to parallel nuclear torpedoes, a cold war era weapon with a similar need for special authorization.
What about tricobolt devices?
I think we need a follow-up video on Plasma, Tricobalt, and Transphasic Torpedoes.
Yes
If in-doubt slap some Tr-ilithium or proto-matter in it.
These need more explanation but what i do know is cobalt is a naturally occurring heavy metal, in Enterprise it was stated there warp core was lined with it, the anti matter relays anyway and tri means three.. three heavy metal warheads? I'm guessing its similar to photons but the casing was extra solid.
@@Searly255 The Heavy Metal Warheads opened for Slayer in '97😎
You should do a video on starfleet probes, they’re quite overlooked
my assumption is that a class one probe would be the lowest form with barely any sensors and maybe it could boost regular ship sensors. then as you move up in class the probe becomes more and more sophisticated. so a class 5 probe could do surface scanning of planets and then relaying the info to the main ship. class 6 or 7 could do long term stuff and have on board data alaysis, sample processing, and data storage so you could leave it in place and come back.
then maybe class 9 and 10 could be akin to drone ships where you give it a preset path around a system and it does a mass survey then returns to a rondevouz point
Wondered what I was going to fill 10 minutes with. As if by magic, Ric appeared.
Now explain why Voyager was carrying tricobalt devices in Caretaker. It was even noted in the show that the ship having them was highly unusual, but not explanation is ever given (unless you believe the conspiracy theories!)
Was actually just thinking about this, you always make great vids
It's good that after I've started watching DS9 I've found my way back here lol. Thank you very much for your videos. They've been helping me through a bit of a rough patch here lately.
Stay well out there everybody, and God be with you, friends. :)
There are few things as comforting as old Trek, hope you feel better soon.
@@abelq8008 Thank you sir. I'm happy to say things have gotten much better since I wrote that comment, praise the Lord. God bless! ✝️ :)
While obviously not canon, the Starfleet Command III manual took a pretty solid wack at quantum torpedoes:
"As the photon torpedo reached what many Starfleet researchers agreed was its highest possible explosive yield, a group of engineers at the Starfleet R&D facility on Groombridge 273-2A began investigating methods for achieving a higher release of energy from a projectile of equal dimensions to the photon torpedo. The result is the quantum torpedo, which utilizes an eleven-dimensional space-time membrane suspended in ultra-clean vacuum within the projectile. The membrane is twisted into a string and then isolated from the background vacuum. This results in the creation of a new particle, which is accompanied by a tremendous release of energy."
One thing I've heard brought up is that with photons, you'll have heard all throughout Star Trek history "arm photon torpedoes" implying that they are stored in an unarmed state, usually described as having no antimatter onboard until "fueled" up as they're loaded into the launcher tubes. You hear that term far less often with quantum torpedoes and it's usually "load quantum torpedoes" implying that whatever is going on in them is far safer to store in a fully armed and ready state.
Just a tidbit I've heard along the way.
Resurrected Starships did a great breakdown a couple years ago on the technical aspects of how the torpedoes work.
Then the Alterans from Stargate must be way more technologically advanced than Starfleet, because when they mess with zero point energy whole star systems go boom
the best description I've seen of quantum torpedoes is as follows, and it deals with similar concepts to real-world naval torpedoes.
When a naval torpedo detonates, it creates a shockwave, yes. But it also creates a cavity in the water from pushing things away. Once this happens, water rushes into this cavity because nature despises vacuums. This however results in pressurization of that pocket of water, and with the path of least resistance being upwards, the pressurized water surges upwards. This is what causes the massive vertical plumes of water you see when torpedoes detonate.
Now on to the star trek bit. Quantum torpedoes detonate like normal photon torpedoes, but at the same time disrupt the quantum vacuum, somehow creating a pocket of no energy amidst the infinite and everpresent energy of the quantum vacuum. An energy that is normally at equilibrium, as it is not disrupted. But now, thanks to this torpedo, it has been. This causes energy to surge into the area around the detonation site, creating an area of very high energy density that adds to the already terrifyingly powerful explosion. In other words, the equivalent of the pressurized water from a naval torpedo. This is where a Quantum torpedo's additional yield comes from, because it capitalizes on this secondary effect.
So it's in partial at least an implosion weapon? which would suggest a sort of artificial micro-blackhole as a sort of central source for the 'not bang'?
@@kinagrill Not quite. The theory goes that the torpedo creates a disturbance in the quantum vacuum, which in turn causes additional problems for everyone at the blast site.
I'm not the best at explaining. I did some digging, and found the orignal video I was thinking of:
ruclips.net/video/3PmYb2dazfM/видео.html&ab_channel=ResurrectedStarships
The way Rick describes the torpedo dropping out of warp and slamming into the firing vessel, it seems like the Wiley Coyote version of Star Trek, with Acme Photon Torpedo stenciled on its casing. : )
2409 and that darn coyote _still_ can't catch that stupid bird.
One of the technical manuals quoted a photon torpedo to have 1.5kg of anitamatter. That should come up to about 64.4 Megatons assuming 100% efficiency in energy conversion.
So that should allow for a good eyeball of their abilities.
Trying to make some sense of Torpedoes - it looks like one of the ways they can be tuned - is to either do splash damage to a ships shields to weaken them - or to do physical damage - and Physical damage can be kinetic or explosive - or to put it another way - you can hit it like a shot and leave the ship mainly intact - if the plan is to just knock the weapons systems out - or it can burrow into the ship and detonate inside like a bunker buster and blow the entire ship up - so when they say target engine or weapons the Torpedo may be tuned to NOT explode the ship - simply to immobilize that one system. Kinetic damage can be seen in Wrath of Khan - when a torpedo goes through the Enterprise's saucer without detonating.
@@90lancaster which by itself suggests the torpedo is definitely shielded and well shielded at that. Considering that a particularly impressive fart can get a matter/antimatter reaction going. Also considering its an omnidirectional explosive a contact detonation to the shield should transfer only 50% of its total energy to it, much as early tests on nukes in space during the cold war would suggest. That could probably explain why proximity explosions are rarely used, even at a short distance you're bleeding valuable boom boom.
Although I can't for the life of me even technobabble bullshit up an explanation as to how exactly the make them adjustable boom without switching out the warhead for a different one.
@@kaloyankatzarov9284 Adjustable boom could be handled by some kind of regulator to change how much matter/antimatter is released into the mix which would change how big the boom is.
@@Loremaster85 theoretically yes, but when that boom goes off the containment field for the rest of the antimatter would be scuffed, which would release it and go for a full boom to begin with. But even if we assume that there is some technobabble way they do that, isn't that immensely in efficient and a waste of antimatter. Even if you magically only use like half a kilo of the antimatter, you're still wasting 1.5 kilo overall. Why not just put in a smaller warhead that has the specific amount, or even better make the warhead capable of adjusting the containment field and thus either sucking up excess antimatter, or putting more in.
It just works, like GNDN conduits.
The Torpedoes likely make more sense than EPS conduits or Structural Integrity shielding does - as "logically" they shouldn't allow the Hull breaches we see until the ship is really wreck (something Discovery actually got more correct perhaps - as we see the Shinzhou's area shielding actually works properly.
I got to touch the torpedo casing that Spock was spaced in. A highlight of my life.
Ahh, marvelous =) Thx, the weekend shall begin
Photon Torpedoes are red and Quantum Torpedoes are blue, duh.
Zero point energy is a real theory...but i can't make heads or tails of the Star Trek explanation!
Ancient Technology in Stargate still outclasses Federation Technology in Star Trek.
Boom and bigger boom! Antimatter vs zero point energy
I had always thought of the evolution of photon to quantum torpedoes as being similar to the evolution from fission to fusion bombs: In the case of the fusion bomb, a fission bomb generates the necessary energy states (heat and pressure) to initiate the fusion reaction. I had assumed that in the case of the the quantum torpedo, an initial mater/antimatter reaction provided the necessary energy to open some sort of rift on the quantum level and release energy from another level of reality into normal space.
Oddly enough, that's somewhat similar to what was at one point the official theory for how fireballs worked in Dungeons and Dragons: the spell generated a tiny aperture into the Elemental Plan of Fire, wrapped in a protective bubble, which was then impelled toward the target. Unfortunately for wizards with low situational awareness, the bubble had roughly the durability of a soap bubble for any purpose other than keeping the aperture stable, and would burst if it struck any obstacle on the way. When the bubble popped, the aperture would collapse, releasing a spherical belch of elemental fire as it did so. This was a handwavium retro-explanation for why a fireball (as handled in game mechanics) would generate heat and ignite combustibles, but not do any blast damage or generate concussive force, but it was still a cool little "our explosions don't work like your explosions" bit of flavor.
Ah yes, the Intermix "cahmber" is vital for Quantums.
Intermix camber is there to ensure a torpedo can get maximum traction when cornering. What?
There is a definite break down of warp speeds though. At least as it applies to TOS and NG. It was published in the NextGen tech-manual back in the 90's.
So get this. Quantum torpedo's according to what you just said, are a vacuum torpedo. Except they create a vacuum of space time itself, literally creating a negative energy in another dimension. which would create a massive positive explosion of energy in this dimension. THATS SOO COOL. Who would have thought of such a thing!! Major props to the Star Trek writers.
The best explanation I have seen that explains it is photon torpedos are like a real torpedo from a submarine striking a target on the surface of the water whereas quantum torpedoes are like a torpedo detonated underwater where is creates a bubble which is much more devastating.
how torpedoes work - the fly towards a target and go boom
I was just watching a video about how Voyager used more torpedoes than they had. They simply stopped to resupply. Once they land on this demon planet for fuel.
10:10 to 10:20. Congratulations, you’ve just explained Voyager. Very appropriate to show it on screen during this time range. The tongue-in-cheek sarcasm is absolutely palpable.
Um?! Anyone else notice he hit 100k subscribers? Congrats! I love the channel, it won't be long to 1mill now.
I always thought it was just a naming convention, sort of like how all Unix systems don't use numbers to indicate subsequent versions but instead use names like 'Jellybean' or 'Cotton Candy'.
... there was an episode of ST: Enterprise where they were rescuing a Klingon cruiser and Mr. Reed found an interesting torpedo design on the bridges tactical display - could this be the leap we are looking for? ...
The way I have heard quantum torpedoes explained that made the most sense to me was this:
They are like underwater torpedoes in how they work. A torpedo underwater strikes the target and explodes, dealing explosive damage. it also shoves all the water around it away, creating a negative space which the water then forces itself violently back into, dealing additional damage to the spot the torpedo just impacted.
This applies to quantum torpedoes because they deform the vacuum or subspace or some shit and then it crashes back down, rebounding and doing more damage at almost the same instant or some shit.
In our RPG we also established a "reason" everyone moves away from "space nukes" AKA atomic bombs. They're very, very messy. In our game the old impact nukes used "small"impulse engines to get to a high speed quickly, then use the impact to ram the two fissile halves together. (One half plus one half equals too much.) Already at half C or higher, this created an hourglass shaped plume instantly tens of miles wide and initially blocking all forms off detection there. Minutes later light, starting in the infrared, is the first thing to dissipate (This is why space ships have visual screens on the bridge.) followed by the heavy ions etc. spreading out for months, until the cloud (and debris if you didn't hit an interceptor) is thin enough to be passed through without caution. Impulse era nukes also ran the risk of catching the shooter in his own backwash.
It worked for us.
The use of quantum torpedoes being the source of the burn could have been interesting.
@Darth Revan Such a garbage explanation, a kid with trauma.
@@goo2098 I didn't even attempt to watch it last season. It was a stretch to get me to watch S2, after the intergalactic fungus highway bullshit. Super future meets old af is a boring trope, and once i heard about "the burn" I decided that was only going to end with something smooth brained.
Thanks for saving me time
@@cruss4612 I didn't really want to either, you're right their ideas are crap but when it comes to Sci-fi we don't have alot of choices. Time travel, future, whatever writers introduce when they're running out of ideas.
5 eps of Trek a day here in the U.K
No, you're not wasting your time because your videos are entertaining.
"'Physics begins to demand...' Hahahahaha! That's hilarious & creative!" (-James)
Will you make a video on tri-cobalt torpedoes too?
Ingredients: cobalt, cobalt, cobalt.
@@shingshongshamalama if star trek officially gives that as the composition i will laugh my head off 😂
@@q5sys ah yes of course
Only Rick could get science fiction and dubstep to work so flawlessly
I want to see a plot where the "energy shockwaves between dimensions" bit gets the Federation in trouble. Like, the interdimensional equivalent of their apartment neighbor banging on the wall, shouting at them to stop playing loud music in the middle of the night.
thanks for this man.
Rick could totally be a professor at The Daystrom Institute.
Quantum torpedoes are really interesting in that _in theory_ they are taking energy from alternate dimensions, which could have detrimental "environmental" effects that are unobservable from this side, and there are significant moral questions around their use. Starfleet, I suspect, is aware of it, and would normally _not_ use such a thing, but the Borg threat required unusual solutions.
No, they are twisting/distorting dimensions, no mention is made of "alternate" dimensions (which would more properly be called alternate realities). They're changing the shapes of up and down and forward and backward and time - *THOSE* dimensions.
@@a-blivvy-yus Let me start by saying that I don't think they've ever _definitively_ given a super detailed explanation in-canon, it's been intentionally left a little vague for story reasons. That said, I have a strong recollection of them using the term zero-point energy, which is drawn from a vacuum state. In most multiverse theories, zero-point energy does come from adjacent dimensions. Changing up/down/time is already what a Photon does, being a high energy matter-antimatter explosion. Those are all dimensions we "normally" interact with. I will freely acknowledge that Quantum energy _might_ come from other dimensions that we are unaware of that aren't parallel and are "completely safe" but if we assume that the only other dimensions beyond space (up down etc.) and time are alternate realities, those alternate realities are where zero-point energy comes from.
@@jameyhej3 Yeah, that's not how zero point energy works in any theory, multiverse or otherwise. The idea is that zero point energy exists independently within each universe, not that it's tied to multiverses in multiverse theory. There is an idea that the energy is potentially bound up in other dimensions (NOT alternate realities) within string theory's 10 and 11 dimensional models, which might be where you're getting confused.
Also, the idea behind photon torpedoes is *NOT* the distortion of dimensions directly, it's the annihilation of matter and antimatter into high-energy photons (which is something which can be verified to happen irl but we've only ever done it on incredibly tiny scales). Quantum torpedoes supposedly use that huge amount of released energy to bend spacetime in a way that allows an equivalent amount of the zero point energy to become accessible, making the blast more powerful by essentially doubling the power it produces. Half the destructive power is from the photon detonation and the other half from an equivalent release of zero point energy caused by distorting spacetime using the explosion's energy to make itself bigger.
Also, again, "dimension" is not the proper term for an alternative reality anyway.
@@a-blivvy-yus I appreciate the detailed response, and I think I perhaps I failed to properly convey the first sentence of mine, which is that there's more than one theory here and ST canon has left it intentionally vague. I fully understand the model you are assuming, and I appreciate you taking the time to fully disclose it so that I know where you're coming from. I agree, your interpretation is _one of_ the valid choices. However, physics does not have a fully working theoretical model for zero-point energy, and the your suggestion that "there isn't one that uses alternate dimensions" is one of the two bits of your response I have issue with, because that, in point of fact, is a theory. And I know this because I am positive I didn't make it up. At the end of the day we don't know exactly where or what zero-point energy is nor where it comes from. Maybe it's just there for the taking, or maybe it has to come from "somewhere else." The second is you keep saying "alternate realities" is the correct term, but "alternate dimensions" is not less valid, because these are all purely theoretical models. The R.B. Fuller 9 dimension model easily supports the notion that higher order (10+) dimensions could actually be parallel realities, and in that model, calling them "alternate dimensions" would be the correct technical term. Some higher order dimensional models all the dimensions exist in the same reality, so I will concede that in that model "alternate reality" would be more accurate. But you can only assume which is the accurate term by also assuming the model, and we're both looking at this from completely different dimensional models.
TL;DR: Agree to disagree, but I fully understand and acknowledge that your assumption is internally consistent and therefore a valid option.
@@jameyhej3 You seem to be getting dark matter/energy (they're different but have been explained in similar terms in this particular regard in different proposals) and zero point energy mixed up. There is an idea that if you move far enough in a dimension other than the 4 we can perceive, you could end up "out of phase" with normal physical reality, intangible and invisible to most forms of detection. There are theories which propose that this is why we can't detect dark matter or energy (none suggesting it to be the case for both, only one or the other), but this *ISN'T* the idea behind zero point energy. It's worth mentioning that none of those proposals have made it to a "theory" level in themselves, though they are considered valid possible explanations for aspects of existing theories and things to potentially be tested for in future.
Zero point energy is a specific concept which can also sometimes be called vacuum energy. The idea behind it is that even empty space has a non-zero amount of energy which allows it to theoretially fluctuate both up *AND* down from its resting energy level. Some of the energy and its amount might be defined by the existence and number of other dimensions but it isn't "in" another dimension or in an alternate reality according to any actual scientific model that has ever been proposed and taken seriously, let alone reached the level of being a recognised theory. The concept of zero point energy is somewhat required for a lot of theories involving quantum fields and the nature of particles as field fluctuations, so it's widely regarded as likely by those who support the idea of quantum physics, whether they use a 10+ dimensional string theory model or not.
It's also worth noting that while Fuller was alive, there was only classical 3 or 4-dimensional physics and what's now known as bosonic string theory (just string theory at the time), which has 26 dimensions. Superstring theory (which is what most people now refer to when saying string theory) showed up around the time he died, and used 10 dimensions with some newer sub-theories using 11. Any model of string theory requires time to be a dimension so you can't even justify calling them 9 dimensional models the way people call classical physics a 3 dimensional model by ignoring time. There is no scientific model that's been considered a serious theory in the past 100 years which uses a number of dimensions that isn't 3, 4, or 10+.
Trek canon has left it intentionally vague, but *NOT* in any way that leaves zero point energy open to being energy pulled out of alternate realities. There's also no model where it could be energy which is bound up in an out-of-phase state which could be seen as a pseudo-alternate reality (without any matter which behaves anything like that in our normal perceptible reality) like some proposals about dark matter or energy (but again, not both) suggest them to be.
I think originally Quantums were envisioned as a plasma weapon based on VGER's projectiles, similar to what Romulans used in BoT. Something that was tied directly into and fed from the warp drive/core. They were unguided, didn't have a physical shell, but were really good as a close-in weapon against large targets like Borg Cubes. Then they became just like regular torpedoes, only blue and better.
They were *not* trying to replace the iconic and versatile photon torpedoes. They wanted to introduce a little something when they got really down dirty with a foe.
10:57 I love the various LED lights in a panel labelled "Computer" like that's supposed to have any practical function.
It was a 1980s-era movie showing off the very latest in 1950s-era technology. Awful props for stuff like machinery, controls, and computer screens. Even kids with paper-route money and Radio Shack parts and C64 computers could build cooler-looking "future" equipment at home. Disappointing details.
Quantum torpedoes work because of the word "Quantum" in the name.
"Are you just adding 'Quantum' to everything"!🤣
As someone who has a proper education in quantum mechanics, quantum torpedos are complete nonsense. Photon torps make way more sense...
Photon is just as much technobabble. As described, they're matter/antimatter torps, but that's longer and doesn't sound as cool. At least they didn't get saddled with "laser torpedoes" like some movies used.
I suspect Robert Whitehead would object to any of this pseudoscientific gadgetry being called a torpedo if he were around to make an objection - or at the very least, demand some royalties.
Donut-shaped defecation, eh? Starfleet has certainly changed since I were a lad!
Warp field sustainers are really useful, as it allows for not just torpedoes but shuttles and small craft to be carried on a larger ship. Launched, exit the warp field then "coast" on the sustained warp field to a destination. Some "experiments" were done with static warp fields with the idea being that a station, could generate a static warp field, itself, then a shuttle could launch, pick that up, and travel off at warp to another station.
The concept with this would allow ships to do short range hops from station to station, outpost to outpost, without requiring a warp drive on the ship.
Even without this though, the ability for a starship traveling at warp, to "drop" non warp shuttles which could then proceed into systems along a ships route, has huge logistics and transport benefits. A ship does not have to "divert", slow down, launch shuttles, or use tranporters, then leave for a lot of missions, they zip "near" a star system, maybe 9-15 light years out, dropping a shuttle, then on the way back, then zip into the system, pick up the shuttle and continue on their way.
This is a lot cheaper, and in many ways safer for these small ships to "project power"... in survey or exploration, where a team may need to speed weeks doing something, the shuttle can carry out the mission without the main ship having to enter the system on the first pass.
The way you explained Quantum Torpedo made me draw a parallel with computing and how -1 can loop back around to 255.
At one point, quantum torpedoes could phase in and out of space time, able to phase past shielding and hull to deliver a direct, internal explosion INSIDE the enemy ship... but then in the movies, they became standard torpedoes with a blue hue... so who knows? Me personally, i like the idea that they can go through shielding and hull, as it would make sense.
Maybe there could be a photon quantum torpedo?!
Whoa that would be EPICALLY AWSUM!
I would like to add one little thing.
In the Star Trek the Next Generation Technical Manual (Not strictly cannon cannon I know but Ric here cites the DS9 tech manual) photon torpedoes are said to be stored in magazines and are safe as they contain no fuel/warhead materials. As a torpedo is loaded into a launcher some of the ships matter and antimatter fuels are loaded onto them. This prevents a situation of a malfunction or other unforeseen disaster from occurring of them "just going off" seeing as a single torpedo going off inside the ship would be catastrophic if not outright destroy it. An entire magazine of dozens or hundreds going off (because if one goes all they'll all go off) would *obliterate* the ship. The matter/antimatter load also acts as the fuel for the torpedo so the farther they travel the less yield they have at detonation (up to 3.5 million kilometers for nominal yield etc). If a torpedo is unloaded from a launcher the matter/antimatter is removed. So, torpedoes are 100% safe and harmless in their magazines. They're only "armed and ready" when they've been loaded into a launcher.
Old Trekkie here, emphasis on old, so I maybe misremembering. However I recall some episode or film where "arming torpedoes" was a thing that took a bit of time once "red alert" was sounded. They weren't instantly available. I wonder if torpedoes in storage actually don't have their antimatter loaded but this is done once a ship goes into combat - hence the "arming" of torpedoes. When they "arm" torpedoes they are actually adding the antimatter charge to the weapon (possibly from the warp core) making the weapon "live" and ready to fire. This would drastically improve safety as having hundreds of small antimatter pods that could breach at any time sounds unreasonably dangerous.
I recall reading that, at least with Klingons, their torpedos aren't loaded with antimatter, so when a Klingon ship fires, they inject the antimatter from their ships reserves just before they fire. That's why their torpedos tubes glow a bit longer before they fire. The same could be said for Starfleet torpedoes but I think it was more like they had to physically load the torpedos, like on current day submarines.
if i recall, the quantum torpedo uses some sort of membrane that makes the matter/antimatter conversion more efficient, making more of it annihilate proton to antiproton.
Amazing tech. In the Army some time ago, the most destructive weapon I had fired short of a howitzer was a 90mm recoilless rifle that fired a shell with a shaped charge warhead. I'm pretty sure I understood the science behind it, but I would never be able to grasp the mechanics of a photon or quantum torpedo.
Fire transphasic torpedoes !
its a pleasure to watch these videos. also from what i understood from the lore the photon is a matter antimatter explosion.
a quantum torpedo destroys the ability of the sub atomic particles even the strange quarkes and stuff it does get to the smallest particles.
transphasic torpedos are a bit out of sync with time so when fired the shield of now cannot defend against a torpedo of the slight future or past i understood them as that
Quark's isn't strange, it's just a Ferengi-owned Bar and Casino place on DS-9 :p
To make it easier to digest: 25 isotons = city level, 80 = small planet level, 200 = max photon output on standard ships, quantum = ….yeah
Resurrected starships theorised Quantum torpedoes had a similar effect to actual torpedo's forming a 'bubble' of zero point energy (the stuff that makes up the universe) and collapsing it creating a huge shockwave which is perfect for tearing borg cubes apart.
I get the impression that the original intent (in the original series) was that photon torpedoes were just balls of energy, or light - aka photons. Hence the name, and how they *look*, which is a big ball of light (hence: "photon"). I think that since they figured since laser (or "phaser") beams (energy) replaced physical bullets...then physical torpedoes could be replaced with balls of energy too.
"Hey, captain, what color torpedo should we fire today?"
Capt: "all of them. Set the LEDs to random"
*ship fires rainbowized torpedoes*
Anybody remember the PC game Starfleet Command 3 from the early 2000s where you could go in and change the power of your weapons and shields? I loved that game. Plenty of time playing that game on my deployments.
If 1g of antimatter equals 43 kilotons of TNT, then 1.5 kg of antimatter equals about 60 megatons. If 25 isotons equals 60 megatons, then 1 isoton equals 2.4 megatons.
Also, why the convoluted intermix thing? Just have the magnetic bottle switch off.
There. Fixed it. Your welcome.
That seems oddly low. The largest nuclear warhead ever detonated was 50 megatons, so Star Trek's photon torpedos aren't actually that powerful (at least by 24th century standards) as they are only as powerful as a (very large) hydrogen bomb.
It has to do with how the explosion is shaped over (a very short period of time) If it was a straight immediate 1-1 reaction you might risk the torpedo blowing itself up more than the target due to the way anti-matter is destroying matter at a 1-1 ratio the torpedo casing masses more than the ant-mater it carries - you want the torpedo to either dump that energy onto the target or the shield in a particular - way - also controlling the rate and shape of explosions is something done now with Nuclear weapons & even shaped explosive charges - so it's kinda like that only with a magnetic or subspace field. If the Torpedo just converted itself to gamma radiation that isn't that damaging really to some decent shields - heck imaging you are shooting at an asteroid - and all the torpedo did was convert itself to gamma radiation - it would only damage the surface a little and irradiate it if it wasn't minutely controllable - Sure the radiation is moving at a certain velocity from the explosion and contains some energy - but it's not ideal if it eats itself and not the target.
Your jolly “hello” to open the video makes me smile. :) Stay well out there everybody, and Jesus Christ be with you friends.😊