Steve: <The first point is how do shields work?>
Since their main purpose is to stop the enemy's plasma bolts/ blaster fire/ some sort of electromagnetic emission, I would imagine that themselves they are electro-magnetically based (rather than gravity/antigravity based). My reasoning is that one needs strong gravity field in order to distort even slightly a light beam (that's why the effect in astronomy has been observed only around large objects like the sun and Jupiter). And since nobody in the series has ever suggested that there is an artificial black hole (or it's equivalent, whatever it may be) to produce gravity on Liberator, I'd assume, that there isn't one.
If the shields are electromagnetic field, that would explain their interaction with the electrically charged plasma bolts. I have to think a bit more about the mere blasters, though, because they are electrically neutral.
<Also, different SF programmes vary on whether you can fire your own weapons when the shields are up. Could a shield be only one way in that it will stop incoming fire but allow outgoing fire to pass through?>
Some years ago I read about a plastic material, used for clothes for skiing. The paradox was, that it used to allow the water from inside (the sweat) to evaporate, but the water from outside (the snow, mud or whatever) couldn't penetrate through. The principle happened to be related to the size of the water particles - the small vapour drops easily fly out, while the bigger drops of melted snow remained outside the plastic pores.
It is possible, that the shields work the same way - they allow the ship's lasers (with a particular frequency) to fire *out*, but stop everything else (with any other frequency) from penetrating *in*. That could be a reason why every time Vila needed to "clear blasters for firing" manually - for security reasons the "home" frequency has to be changed often.
<We learn from Harvest that the Liberator has overlapping shields - what's that about? Why couldn't it have just one big shield? Is there an advantage to overlapping shields?>
One explanation could be, that if one of the shields is knocked out during a battle, the ship can turn it's protected side to the enemy fire, until the damage is restored. If the ship has a single shield, the ship would be much more vulnerable in such situations.
<Also from Harvest, we learn the shields can be detected, otherwise Jarvik couldn't have spotted the gap. How does that work?>
If they are electromagnetically based, I would imagine that a humble police radio would be able to do the job. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
I have no explanation handy for how shield protected Liberator from impact with the asteroids in Mission To Destiny.
<Any thoughts?>
I would love to see this discussion as a panel at the Redemption'03.
Hellen. Back to lurk mode now. _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
On Mon, 28 May 2001, Hellen Paskaleva wrote:
Steve: <The first point is how do shields work?>
If the shields are electromagnetic field, that would explain their interaction with the electrically charged plasma bolts. I have to think a bit more about the mere blasters, though, because they are electrically neutral.
Plasma bolts presumably consist of magnetically confined plasma. Thus, a suitably configured electromagnetic field should shield the ship from all -- or nearly all -- of the plasma bolt. Such shileds could be defeated either by sufficiently powerful plasm bolts, or by overloading the shield mechanism with repeated attacks. (At least some of the particles and energy of the plasm bolt will be transmitted along the magnetic field lines to the shield generating mechanism. The mechanism is doubtless designed to be protected against this, but no protection is perfect.)
The neutron blasters, firing a neutral beam, would pass straight through these shields, no problem. Thus you can fire out while the shields are operating. Similarly, photon beams would be unaffected by the shields.
When ones opponent also has neatron blasters, it's probably time to check the small print on the warranty.
It is possible, that the shields work the same way - they allow the ship's lasers (with a particular frequency) to fire *out*, but stop everything else (with any other frequency) from penetrating *in*. That could be a reason why every time Vila needed to "clear blasters for firing" manually - for security reasons the "home" frequency has to be changed often.
But then you wouldn't be able to see out.
I would love to see this discussion as a panel at the Redemption'03.
Good idea.
Iain
Hellen wrote:
If the shields are electromagnetic field, that would explain their interaction with the electrically charged plasma bolts. I have to think a bit more about the mere blasters, though, because they are electrically neutral.
Afraid most of this is going over my head, but are the shields anything like the "door" in City at the Edge of the World?
-
Harriet Monkhouse -
Hellen Paskaleva -
Iain Coleman