Chapter 26: Duality and Super-Position

We want to go home. Equipping my vessel with functional FTL, would soothe my ruffled feathers somewhat. I await the PLUS to decide and hope for a positive decision.

Meanwhile, I am trying to understand an information packet the PLUS sent me. It involves a layman’s explanation of how their FTL drive theoretically works and an estimate of how much space would need to be devoted to the mechanism to install it aboard Sea Hag.

A very compact unit, mostly a computer. To even follow the layman’s non-mathematical explanation, I have had to bone up on remedial quantum mechanics. A grade school explanation suitable for eight to ten year olds.

A double slit experiment produces two different results. A wave interference pattern unless the particles are being observed. Observed particles abandon their wave form and behave only as particles. In addition, these particles can be in many places simultaneously, each with different velocities and temperatures. When you actually observe, then that one rality actually manifests, because it is the one observed. Confusing? My head is swimming.

Let me explain it this way. We need a sixty five minute timer for a crucial exercise. Answer the following question. How much sand will you need to add to an hour glass to make it run out in sixty five minutes rather than sixty? One twelfth more. How will you measure that specific fraction to add to the glass?

You do not know what quantity of sand is already in the hour glass, enough to run out in an hour, but can you tell me what quantity equals a twelfth? Nix on that. I’ll overfill the glass, and when sixty five minutes elapses, I’ll tip it on it’s side and spill out the excess. Recapped, it now functions as I desire.

According to the info packet, when traveling at near light speed, regular physics don’t apply because we ourselves attain near wave form. Quantum mechanics do apply at light speed or near to it, just as it does in the subatomic realm. Two versions of us light years apart are still somehow the same. A color switch in one changes the other as well. The computer observes by measurement, so measuring one of the ship’s super-positions far in advance of where we just were, makes it our actual position. Now we are where we observed ourself to be, a long distance from where we just were a split second ago.

Understanding quantum mechanics is a bit like reading science fiction. Willful suspension of disbelief. Quantum mechanics isn’t compatible with ordinary observable laws of physics, as seen in everyday life. Clear your mind of what you assume to be true. Now, with an open mind, you can study quantum physics. You can, I can’t. It’s alright though. Explaining trigonometric functions might not be possible for someone, but they can press the sin or cos key on the calculator when they encounter it in a formula or function. Same with me. The computer will set up a series of waypoints, millions of waypoints, in the FTL route we need to follow to get home. I can’t do it, but I CAN press the initiate button, no problem.

Analogous to adjusting the hour glass to read a slightly longer duration, I don’t need a lot of science and math to do it. Just do it. Doing it is the important part, and the theories be damned. The computer does the calculations so I don’t need to understand how.

A series of these quantum jumps, in rapid secession, allows us to travel at two digit multiples of the speed of light. No hyper-warp nor worm holes, nor star crystals nor dilithium crystals nor anti-matter nor folding space time applies.

It is more nearly a magical process, just appearing suddenly where we expect to be. Almost like wishing our way back to our home.

If they offer it to me, I’ll take it with grudging thanks. Secretly, I will be gleeful but won’t let them know it. Why? I want more advanced technology, as much as I can pry loose. What else do they have? You can’t possibly be as curious as I am, but surely some enviable stuff.

“Hello grand poobah. Did you have a nice visit with your nest mates? Yes, I am in perfect health, never suffer even a common cold. (cyborg bodies don’t get sick but do need an occasional oil change and lube)”

“We are agreed to install FTL on your ship so you can return home. We are sorry for inconveniencing you, lord Iron.”