Electronium

Electronium is a generic term for a grouping of artificial atoms - namely, electron configurations that lack nuclei, but are still bound in some manner. The concept was first pioneered with quantum dots, and expanded rapidly as a form of programmable matter.

The word often refers to properties that are difficult or impossible to create with conventional atoms and their corresponding molecules, as the total number of available configurations is effectively infinite, and not limited to combinations of (roughly) spherical magnetic fields with electric charges running up to 138 times that of an electron, almost half of which have limited stability.

Electronium is commonplace, although its direct usage is mostly invisible to the population of the galaxy - it facilitates superconducting, computing, nanomachinery, and many other technologies, and serves as a bridge between normal and exotic matter. But even in these cases, it works in a tightly controlled setting, invisible to most, and 'just works', although many are aware of it. Deflectors and similar applications, such as special ultra high or ultra low friction surfaces, viewscreens, and assemblers are the most common visible applications of this technology, and they generally make the most use of it as programmable matter.

Intense amounts of energy, sometimes combined with the assistance of mobius patterns, can create an electronium screen. These are usually simple, flat 'surfaces' granted some property - usually as a filter or defensive net, but more complex devices like haptigrams are possible. More primitive versions require the screen to be surrounded in some fashion - at least by two opposing faces, though more advanced, shapeable screens have been constructed - most notably the planetary screens surrounding Ouranos Prime, Earth and Mars before the Purge. Screen technology is also closely related in concept to diagravity.