Exotic

Exotic matter is the term for strange, electomagnetically interacting matter. Theory consists of three orders of them.

First Order

First-order exotics are either quantum dots or stabilized atoms. This was pioneered in the 20th and 21st century, though did not see much practical use until the 22nd century.

Quantum dots are magnetically controlled matter to suit various ends, that consist of no nuclei, just the electron shell. Since they are essentially atoms without protons, there are no limits on their size, and they do not exhibit lanthanide contraction. So, pseudo-gold is not yellow, pseudo-mercury is a solid, and so on. Elements created in this fashion are usually referred to with the 'pseudo' prefix. Their primary use is in creating a perfect, monomolecular edge, and for defensive nets - usually referred to as screens.

Stabilized atoms are atoms that, while normally radioactive, are inhibited from decaying through stimulation and monitoring, or sometimes other methods. This is usually done to help facilitate better experimental situations, though it does see direct usage where it is feasible to have a larger apparatus maintain a small portion of a critical element on an atomic level. It is also used to assist in the production of more stable isotopes of heavier elements.

The principles of first order exotics can be carried into the second order, at least for quantum dots. This is used almost entirely for experimental purposes, however, since exotic electrons are far too valuable to be used otherwise.

Second Order

Second-order exotics make use of replacement protons, neutrons, and electrons. They are typically referred to as exoparticles - that is, exrotons, exeutrons, and exolectrons - or hypoparticles - hrotons, heutrons, and hectrons. Like all matter, they possess their own antiparticles. They are referred to as exomatter and hypomatter, respectively.

Despite having electric charge, exoparticles, hypoparticles, and standard atomic particles do not like to mingle with particles not of their specific order - there is an additional, repulsive force between them. This is compounded, slightly, with self-attractive forces that draws particles of the same order and type together, though this is negligible in comparison, and almost nonexistent in normal matter. The end result of this is that different types of such matter are nearly frictionless with respect to one another, limiting their use to independent systems.

All forms of second-order exotic matter have stable isotopes. Even still, with only twenty-nine elements combined between the two forms, the amount of useful chemistry they can perform is extremely limited. What little chemistry is available has proven itself to be highly useful, however.

Exomatter

Individually, exoparticles have a slightly lower mass than their standard counterparts, and six times the electric charge. Despite their lower mass, they tend to be denser - especially at higher numbers - primarily due to the additional contraction effects a greater charge creates.

Exomatter was exceedingly rare in the Galaxy until Albred Mynoth discovered the Mynoth process. Attempts to keep it secret from the Three Empires only accelerated the coming of the Purge, and they eventually learned the process through the Holocene and supplicants anyway.

Because the energy of activation is so high, exomatter and compounds of it tend to be transparent, white, or extremely reflective, though a full spectrum of colors is possible. When heated to extreme temperatures (about 3,000K), they start to glow 'purple hot', as emitting as a blackbody requires the electrons first accumulate enough energy to emit it in the first place, which begins in the X-Ray spectrum. As temperature increases, higher energy levels are reached more easily, and the full spectrum is eventually covered and they glow 'white hot'. While this presents a mild hazard to things susceptible to gamma and ultraviolet radiation in everyday use, the sheer utility of these materials is considered to outweigh the risk.

Exotic matter compounds are listed with the X: prefix. For example, X:TiO2 signifies the exotic variant of titanium dioxide.

Only twenty-three exoelements are possible. The uses listed are by no means even remotely complete:

• exohydrogen has a melting point of nearly 750 Kelvin and a boiling point of a bit over 1,000 K in vacuum. Alone, it makes an excellent superconductor, capable of performing as such up until it melts. Of course, it is also useful in a wide variety of compounds.
• exohelium, like normal helium, is not solid under normal pressures short of the megapascal range. It does have a significantly higher boiling point - nearly 200 Kelvin, making its superfluid properties far easier to take advantage of. Amongst other uses, it is the perfect lubricant when in sealed conditions.
• exolithium sees some use as a component in chemical fuels, namely with exoflourine. The compound between these two is sometimes called rocket salt.
• exoberyllium is an extremely useful exotic element with a melting point close to twenty thousand Kelvin. It functions as a p-type dopant in exotic computers, and is also used as the prime component in ultralight alloys. Like normal beryllium, it has a significant cross-section, making it useful as a neutron reflector and neutrino detector.
• exoboron is largely used as an alloying and composite material rather than in any pure form.
• exocarbon has the highest sublimation point of all forms of exomatter - in excess of two hundred thousand Kelvin. Individually, its bonds are also extremely strong, and its presence is the key component in the various 'exosteels'. Likewise, its ready use in many compounds makes it one of the most common exoelements by mass. It is the most common exotic semiconductor.
• exonitrogen compounds are usually used as 'mobility control agents' in pseudo-organic materials like those that make up homo excelsior. Essentially, they help keep the body mobile at lower temperatures.
• exooxygen compounds have similar uses, but also function as corrosion control such as when combined with exotitanium, as well as forming other compounds.
• exofluorine is primarily used as a fuel and exotic corrosive agent. While expensive, it is the only means by which 'mundane' vessels can keep up with the runeships.
• exoneon is similar to exohelium in many respects, even to the point of exhibiting high-temperature superfluidity. It is somewhat less useful and thus does not see much production.
• exosodium is primarily an alloying and compound agent.
• exomagnesium typically an alloy with exoaluminum.
• exoaluminum forms the basis for the middleweight exosteel.
• exosilicon sees frequent use in solar panel arrays.
• exophosphorus is used for p-type junctions in exotic computing.
• exosulfur is an important compound agent.
• exochlorine is an important compound agent.
• exoargon is notable for being the first 'noble gas' that is actually liquid at room temperature. It is a bit odd as it doesn't make things wet, which can confuse people not familiar with it.
• exopotassium is rarely used, but does see some function in more complex compounds.
• exocalcium is often used in exotic ceramics and cements, as well as being a common alloying agent.
• exoscandium makes up the heaviest group of exosteels. It has a slightly higher strength to weight ratio than exotitanium.
• exotitanium is usually used for high-temperature demands. It is rather dense, and though it possesses extreme strength (in the low terapascal range) its use is limited. It does function as a rather potent neutrino detector, however.
• exovanadium is the second-densest substance known. A meter of it blocks roughly .02% of passing neutrinos, and is thus used heavily by the missions.

Hypomatter

Hypoparticles is notably lighter than their normal counterparts, and possess twenty-three times the electric charge. Only six hypoelements are possible.

All hypomatter is extremely reflective, even to enhanced human vision, and seemingly frictionless. Outside of hypohelium, telling the difference between two of these requires some form of complex analysis.

• hypohydrogen, like exohydrogen, is a superconducting solid up to its melting point - about a hundred thousand Kelvin. Some ships use it for heat spreading.
• hypohelium remains a liquid up to around a thousand Kelvin, retaining superfluid properties throughout. It replaces exohelium for critical uses when enough is available.
• hypolithium does not see frequent use.
• hypoberyllium is notable for the fact that a single-atom layer of this substance is impervious to neutrons.
• hypoboron does not see frequent use.
• hypocarbon is the smallest of all atoms known, to the point where it is also the densest substance known despite its light atomic weight. Hypocarbon fiber has a tensile strength nearing two exapascals. While its use as an armor is suspect, a thin layer often covers flagships, in order to provide a barrier that can protect against chemical weapons, gamma-pulse lasers, and high-temperature attacks.

No simple process currently exists for the creation of hypomatter. Its value is often rivals that of patterns, and is often treated accordingly by those terran organizations that seek complete control over such things. This also makes many among the Three Empires suspicious of the technology, as anything humans would so openly embrace must be suspect.