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Topic: Sol's Subspace Theory Revisited

Krenim
Unholy Triangle Fella
Member # 22

posted

Took a while, but I eventually tracked down Sol's nifty subspace graphic, which I always thought to be a good representation as to how the different Trek drives worked in respect to one another.

Sol's Nifty Subspace Theory Graphic

Anyway, Sol's theory popped into my mind while I was examining the nifty-though-mindbogglingly-complex warp equation TSN found quite a while back. Now, goodness knows this equation is non-canon, but it is the only equation ever created that does fit given canon warp speeds. Anyway, there is a discontinuity of this curve at Warp 9.9995:

Limit as W (the warp factor) approaches 9.9995 from the left: approx. 10300c.

Speed at W: approx. 37000c. (TSN gets 45000c, but it is possible at such discontinuities for small changes in either rounding or significant digits to significantly alter results.)

Limit as W approaches 9.9995 from the right: approx. 199000c.

So, here's my thought: Could Warp 9.9995 be the threshold between the warp domain and the upper transwarp domain of Sol's diagram, just as Warp 1 is the threshold between normal space and the warp domain?

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Kang/Kodos in '04!

[This message has been edited by Krenim (edited December 07, 2000).]

Registered: Mar 1999 | IP: Logged

Joshua Bell
Member
Member # 327

posted

If you apply a couple of coordinate transforms to that picture you can get to how I've always imagined subspace.

First off, the outer skin (normal spacetime) in the 2-D diagram depicts a closed, curved 1-dimensional universe. Obviously, the diagram would have to be 4-D to accurately represent our 3-D universe. Ignore that for now, and pretend we are little line segments living in a 1-D universe. Take the diagram and turn it inside out, so that rather than having spacetime on the "outside" and Warp 10 is a dot at the center, spacetime is a small circle at the center and subspace extends out to infinity with Warp 10 at all directions infinitely far away.

Now photocopy the diagram a few times and scatter them on your desk. Each one represents a distinct spacetime manifold embedded in the greater structure of subspace. If you call the distinct spacetimes "tertiary subspace manifolds" (when viewed from each other) then you can cite "Schisms" [TNG] as evidence for this crazy scheme.

You can also turn the diagram inside-out again (all you need is a higher dimension) and stuff a "superspace" into the supposedly small circle representing each spacetime manifold. Not necessary, but don't let this scheme make you feel limited. In Ian M. Banks' Culture SF series there's a notion of nesting universes like onions providing the subspace-equivalent to build FTL devices around. But they never mention that in Star Trek (and lets hope they can avoid adding that degree of technobabble).

Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Sol System
two dollar pistol
Member # 30

posted

Uh...me do good?

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"I finally see that what we thought was a fun way to celebrate our love was really an expression of hostility and disrespect toward Jesus."
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Registered: Mar 1999 | IP: Logged

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