False ... for the most part.Darth Wong wrote: I say again: phase-cloaks, subspace transporters, regular transporters, sensors, and communications: all useless against heavy metals.
Transporters: -Based on a guess only-
I have just scanned your TNG database in reference to regular transporters. Only twice is anything remotely like a heavy metal mentioned. The first instance involved two kilometers of granite (at which point you assumed density had something to do with it, and that heavy metal would be worse). The second involved something called victurium alloy, properties unknown.
Sensors: -Radioactive elements can affect sensors, heavy metals might-
For sensors, the only substances we have definite knowledge about the properties and common densities of would be the actinides and magnesite. The magnesite is sad... they were probably hoping for a made-up name that sounded really magnetic. As it stands, though, we don't know what subspace properties the substance might have, so there's some hope. As for the actinides, these are all radioactive, and we don't know the isotopes being discussed or the concentrations. Furthermore, those were Klingon sensors being discussed.
You claim Riker is unsurprised at the idea of heavy metals interfering with sensors in "Future Imperfect", but as I recall (though it has been awhile), he was well on his way to unmasking the alien boy. Even if your assumption is correct, we do not know what kinds, or in what concentration.
Communications: -no examples of heavy metal affecting comm-
"Silicon Avatar" gives us certain refractory metals that _might_ interfere with communications. However, there was also a giant snowflake eating the world outside, and Riker was using a communicator to contact a ship which was not in orbit, so any level of interference from the refractory metals may not have been anything more than slight. The Vico bulkheads are mentioned as blocking communications, but if the bulkheads of that ship are the victurium alloy mentioned, it is a rare problem indeed.
Other:
There is no evidence to suggest a phase cloak has trouble with heavy metals. There is no evidence to suggest subspace transporters had trouble with heavy metals.
Actually, it is described as a heavy metallic element. It can be found in naturally occurring veins on a moon of Dathomir, just under the surface.Darth Wong wrote: As for neutronium (a typical red-herring nitpick since the original point does not depend on it; ordinary depleted uranium will do the trick), Star Wars neutronium does not claim to be "solid neutronium". It is described as a metallic matrix impregnated with neutronium, which is consistent with its appearance.
Actually, you can get nice "swiss cheese" and "spaghetti" phases of it if you keep it closer to a neutron superfluid (i.e. "impure" neutronium, not as condensed, with some nuclei still kicking).Darth Wong wrote:Star Trek neutronium on the other hand, is obviously not true neutronium because it claims solid non-spherical shapes, and neutronium does not form any shape but a sphere.
No one ever claimed neutronium existed in manufactured form without help.Darth Wong wrote:Solid rectangular shapes are the result of electromagnetic binding configurations, which are inapplicable to neutronium because neutronium is electrically neutral. Moreover, electromagnetism is much weaker than the nuclear binding force.
Yes it does matter whether or not its Celsius or Kelvin, there's a big difference between the two.