Library Data:Jump Drive

Library Data Milieu 1116 

The central theory of the jump drive operation is the idea of jump space, a method of quickly traversing the long distances between stars. The basic concept of jump space is that of an alternate space. Theoretically, jump spaces are alternate universes, each only dimly understood from the standpoint of our own universe. Within jump space, different physical laws apply, making energy costs for reactions and activity different and imposing a different scale on size and distance.

Jump is defined as the movement of matter and energy from one point in space (called real space', normal space or N-Space) to another point in normal space by traveling through an alternate space (called jump space or J-Space). The benefit of jump is the time required to execute a jump is relatively invariant — about one week.

Jump distances are calculated in parsecs (3.27 light-years). Jump-1, for example, indicates the ability to jump one parsec. Jump numbers range from 1 to 6; higher jump numbers are not possible in ordinary usage, although misjumps can carry ships over greater distances.

Jump takes 168 hours (± 10%) to complete. The time is related to the nature of the alternate space being traveled in, and to the energy applied. Where time is a variable in travel in normal space, energy is a variable in jump space; time is a constant. Consequently, distance depends on the energy applied. The duration of a jump is fixed at the instant jump begins, and depends on the specific jump space entered, the energy input into the system, and on other factors.. The exact time of emergence is usually predicted by the ship's computers.

Jump drives require fuel, displacement mass, and coolant, all of which are collectively called jump fuel (liquid hydrogen being used for all three functions). Fuel used for ships is hydrogen, which is available in the atmospheres of gas giants (similar to Saturn or Jupiter) or from oceans of water. The amount of fuel required for a successful jump is equal to 10% of the displacement of the ship per parsec of jump distance attempted.

Jump drive machinery requirements are tied to the volume of the hull and the maximum distance the drive is capable of jumping the ship. There are upper limits on how many parsecs a ship may jump based on the Technology Level of the drive.

Gravity has extraordinary effects on the function of the jump drive. Jump transitions to jump space are severely scrambled within the stresses of a gravity well; the transition cannot usually take place within the stresses of a gravity well. When it does, the turbulence created by the gravity well makes the results unpredictable. Entering jump space is possible anywhere but the perturbing effects of gravity make it impractical to begin a jump within a gravity field of more than certain specific limits based on size, density, and distance. The general rule of thumb is a distance of at least 100 diameters out from a world or star (including a safety margin). This limit is referred to as the 100 diameter (abbreviated as 100D) limit and referred to as an absolute requirement rather than a safety guideline.

One of the benefits of the Jump Drive is controlability; jump is predictable. When known levels of energy are expended, and certain other parameters are known with precision, jump drive is accurate to less than one part per ten billion. Over a jump distance of one parsec the arrival point of a ship can be predicted within perhaps 3,000 kilometers.

The laws of conservation of mass and energy continue to operate on ships which have jumped; when a ship exits jump it retains the speed and direction it had when it entered jump. Commercial ships, for safety reasons, generally reduce their velocity to zero before jumping. Military and Courier ships often enter jump at a high speed and aim for an end point of a jump which directs their vector toward their destination in the new system. Such a maneuver allows constant acceleration in the originating system, followed by constant deceleration in the destination system.

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