Positron Micrography
In the first part of Rome's Revolution, after Rome has received the go-ahead to produce star-probes and later VIRUS units, OMCOM uses positron micrography to visualize the extremely small elements being produced. Why positron micrography? Why not electron micrography? Let's go back a step. What the heck is a positron, anyway?
Everybody knows the nucleus of an atom is composed of neutrons, protons and electrons. However, that is ordinary matter. There is another substance, very exotic, called anti-matter. So an anti-electron is called a positron. Whenever matter comes in contact with anti-matter, both particles are annihilated with a tremendous release of energy.
It is this very property that gives positron microscopes their tremendous focusing power. By aiming positrons at molecules, they come in contact with electrons and obliterate them and give you a detailed image of the molecular structure of an object utilizing the energy release.
Why are these devices higher resolution than electron microscopes? For the very reason stated above. Atoms contain electrons and if you beam electrons at something, they bounce off or dislodge other electrons and the resulting image, while very high resolution, has an inherent probabilistic diffusion. There is no such confusion with positrons as they do not exist in nature. At least in our universe.
These devices really exist. The first working prototype was developed at the University of Michigan (my alma mater) in 1988. Since then other research centers have developed them and possession of such devices no longer raise eyebrows. Positron microscopes are especially useful in the examination of living, biological samples. Cell walls are particularly resistant to other imaging techniques because of the presence of lipids and other complex molecules. Positrons don't care. They get to where they are going, annihilate their sister electrons and signal their place with a burst of energy.
Since memrons straddle the line between living organisms and inert materials, the positron microscope seemed to be an ideal fit as an imaging device. Not to mention it is way cooler sounding than other devices.
Everybody knows the nucleus of an atom is composed of neutrons, protons and electrons. However, that is ordinary matter. There is another substance, very exotic, called anti-matter. So an anti-electron is called a positron. Whenever matter comes in contact with anti-matter, both particles are annihilated with a tremendous release of energy.
It is this very property that gives positron microscopes their tremendous focusing power. By aiming positrons at molecules, they come in contact with electrons and obliterate them and give you a detailed image of the molecular structure of an object utilizing the energy release.
Why are these devices higher resolution than electron microscopes? For the very reason stated above. Atoms contain electrons and if you beam electrons at something, they bounce off or dislodge other electrons and the resulting image, while very high resolution, has an inherent probabilistic diffusion. There is no such confusion with positrons as they do not exist in nature. At least in our universe.
These devices really exist. The first working prototype was developed at the University of Michigan (my alma mater) in 1988. Since then other research centers have developed them and possession of such devices no longer raise eyebrows. Positron microscopes are especially useful in the examination of living, biological samples. Cell walls are particularly resistant to other imaging techniques because of the presence of lipids and other complex molecules. Positrons don't care. They get to where they are going, annihilate their sister electrons and signal their place with a burst of energy.
Since memrons straddle the line between living organisms and inert materials, the positron microscope seemed to be an ideal fit as an imaging device. Not to mention it is way cooler sounding than other devices.
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Tales of the Vuduri
Tidbits and insights into the 35th century world of the Vuduri.
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