Stargate: Wormhole Theory, Myths, and Relation to an Advance Computing Device, Winter 2010
Manuscript received March 30, 2010 (date on which paper was submitted for review). Corresponding author: R.A.Lever (e-mail: [email protected]).
Stargate: Wormhole Theory, Myths, and Relations to an Advance Computing Device
Ronald A. Lever1
1Department of Applied Computer Science, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2E9 Canada
This article will have three main purposes to achieve. The first purpose is to discuss basic Wormhole theory. These basics are needed to understand how a Stargate does what it does. Secondly the article will be discussing what a Stargate is, a brief look at its history and operation. Finally, this article will be discussing how the Stargate operates in relation to an advanced computing device.
Index Terms— Black Hole, Chevron, Dial Home Device (DHD), Event Horizon, Point of Origin, Stargate, White Hole, Wormhole Theory, Zero Point Module (ZPM) .
I. Introduction
How often have you looked up to the sky and wondered how it would feel to travel to a distant planet in a blink of an eye? Or even thought of seeing into another part of the galaxy just like looking out your window? Well it might not be able to happen now, but that didn't stop a movie from exploring the possibility.
That movie, then later, a TV series was Stargate. This show combined plausible scientific theories with imagination and allowed its viewers to travel to new worlds and meet new people every day. Some of those people were nice and friendly like the Asgards, or evil like the first race the Stargate team encountered, the Goa'uld.
Like what the title states, this article will take you through all the basic knowledge needed to understand how the Stargate can be related to an advanced computing device.
II. Wormhole Theory
Fig. 1. The main principle behind a Wormhole is the connection of two points through a tunnel in bent space. This is an example of an Einstein-Rosen Bridge.
To understand how a Stargate operates first you must have the basic understanding of Wormhole Theory. The basic principle behind a wormhole is simple, it is a tunnel allowing the bending of space between two points in which travel from the originating point to the destination point is made faster, see figure 1.
In the book A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking, he likens space to a tall mountain, stating that normally you would have to climb that mountain to get to the other side [2]. This is not only a huge and dangerous task but it is also time consuming and slow. Then Hawking goes on to state that a Wormhole is like a tunnel built right through the mountain. It is not only easier, but faster and safer.
Hawking also mentions that the main ideas behind Wormhole theory were researched by Einstein and Nathan Rosen in 1935. They used the term bridge; this term later became known as Wormholes.
The Einstein-Rosen Wormhole was created by the connection of a Black Hole, and its opposite White Hole. While this type of wormhole was not stable for traversal, and one could not pass the Event Horizon, energy was able to pass through. This theory allowed others to come up with plausible theories on how to traverse Wormholes by adding exotic matter, which is a matter that violates one or more energy laws, or Wormholes held open by negatively massed cosmic strings, a hypothetical one dimensional topological defect in various fields [1].
III. Stargate
After looking briefly at Wormhole Theory we can now look at the Stargate. The Stargate is a giant superconductor and is made up of a fictional metal know as Naquadah. It can also be made purely of earthen metals [3]. There are many different types of Stargates, they are named after the area of space they are in. Such as the Milky Way gates, and the Pegasus Gates, but there are gates named after the people who built them as well. For example the Milky Way and Pegasus gates were built by the Acients. There are also Asuran, Orilian and Tollan gates [4] see figure 2a.
There are several components to the Stargate that allows for its operation. There is the Stargate itself, which is the main component. It is able to operate as long as it has power. Then there is the Dial Home Device or the DHD, see figure 2c. This device not only allows easier dialing of the gate, but it also supplies power to gate operation via a Zero Point Module or a ZPM for short, see figure 2b. Although it is possible to have alternative source of energy powering the gate, this is more costly and less efficient than the ZPM.
Fig. 2a, 2b, 2c. From left to right, Milky Way Galaxy Stargate [4], a ZPM for powering the Stargate [5], and lastly the Dial Home Device [6].
The Milky Way Stargate has 36 symbols know as Chevrons. For the Milky Way gates, these symbols represent different constellations, and one represents the point of origin of Earth, or the current planet a person is on. The combination of these Chevrons makes up what is called a gate address. Depending on where a person is dialing determines how many Chevrons are used. For example, a person dialing a gate address within their own galaxy will only need 7 symbols including the point of origin, while dialing a gate address outside the galaxy requires 8 symbols to be dialed including the point of origin [4].
There is a reason that at least six symbols are needed. If you look at a 3d space, to get an actual fixed point you need to have six points, as well as a point not within the area of the other points. This extra point, like mentioned before, is called the point of origin. The line from the point of origin represents the connection between the point in space as well as the starting point [4].
The DHD houses the symbols necessary for dialing the gate. The symbols are located on buttons that are able to be pressed, after the address is dialed, the red button in the middle activates the gate and the ability to travel through it. A gate with a DHD is able to be dialed and Chevrons locked instantly, this is different with the Earth Stargate due to the fact that the Earth Stargate did not have the DHD [6].
The Zero Point Module, or ZPM, like mentioned before, is what powers the Stargate. A ZPM is able to generate massive amounts of energy, which is siphoned from anomalies know as quantum foam. This anomaly is just millions of sub atomic Black Holes. The ZPM has a potential of providing power for a million years, once the pocket of quantum foam is used up, the ZPM essentially becomes useless [5].
Once the gate is dialed, and a connection is made, a blue surface then appears. This is often referred to as the Event Horizon, but this is not a true one. This field is more like a matter-to-energy field that allows the travel through the Stargate Worm Hole. The Stargate on the other end has a similar field that appears. This Event Horizon is actually the field that changes the energy that has passed through the Worm Hole back into matter.
The interesting thing about going through the Stargate is that it can only travel in one direction. This is due to the unidirectional properties of traveling through a Worm Hole. This is different though for transmitting radio or video signals. The transmission of this type of energy seems to be bi-directional, allowing for communication, and recon of the other side to occur once the proper equipment is on the other side of the gate.
IV. Comparing a Stargate with a Computer
Now that you know about the Stargate, and how it works, there can now be a parallel drawn between a Stargate and a computing device such as the computer.
We will start with the DHD. The DHD is the keyboard, power supply, and houses the operating system of the Stargate. The way it relates to the keyboard is that it has buttons to press for input. This input is then relayed to the gate operation system which is housed by a set of crystals, which act as memory for the DHD. The DHD is also the power supply for the gate through the ZPM. The ZPM provides much more power to the Stargate with next to no energy loss. Without the ZPM the gate would not be able to spin to allow for dialing, though other power supplies can be used if a ZPM is not available.
The Stargate operating system is what allows for the connecting of gates, the disassembling, storing, transmitting, and reintegrating of patterns. This is similar to a computer's operating system which breaks down input to is basic form, transmits it where a person needs it, and then reintegrates it back to a usable form.
The Stargate itself can be likened to a modem, for the simple fact that with the command being sent from the DHD, it will modulate a person from matter to energy transmit it over the Stargate network, and then on the other side will demodulate that person from energy back into matter.
The Stargates are connected by what is called a Stargate network. This is similar to a computer network. Each gate has a specific address, known as a gate address, which is similar to a computers IP address. This gate address can be inputted on the DHD, or can be manually inputted directly on the gate by turning the inner ring of the Stargate. Each Stargate has its own unique gate address just like a computer on the network has its own unique IP address. The only difference between the IP address and the Stargate address is that an IP address uses numbers, while the Stargate address uses Chevrons, or symbols.
A network uses protocols and tunnels to determine how information is transmitted; this is no different with the Stargate. There are specific protocols on how matter is transmitted through the gate network, as well as how to handle objects not completely through the dematerializing field or as the show calls it the Event Horizon. While these protocols are more for safety, none the less they are still protocols.
Finally, while our computers uses network cables to connect to a network, the Stargate uses an artificially made Worm Hole to connect two gates together.
V. Conclusion
Even though Stargate technology is not available now, we do have theories how it can be done, as well we can see we have similar processes happening already. All we have to do is take a look at our very own computer. With this comparison we can see that it might not be so farfetched that sometime in the future just by studying, and expanding our knowledge of computers we might be able to advance enough to someday create an intergalactic network of gates that will allow us to travel through the stars.
Acknowledgment
I would like to thank Jonathan Vanderpol for pushing me to do this article; it was an idea that I had kicking around in my head for a while. I would also like to acknowledge the creators of Stargate for their great imagination; otherwise this article could not happen. Finally, I would like to acknowledge Tracy Jones for being my proof reader and basic moral support.
References
[1] Wormhole. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2010, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormhole
[2] Hawking, S., & Mlodinow, L. (2005). A Briefer History of Time. New York: Bantam Dell.
[3] Mini Stargate. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2010, from Stargate Wiki: http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Mini_Stargate
[4] Stargate. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2010, from Stargate Wiki: http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/Stargate
[5] ZPM. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2010, from Stargate Wiki: http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/ZPM
[6] Dial Home Device. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2010, from Stargate Wiki: http://stargate.wikia.com/wiki/DHD
Ronald A Lever Ronald Lever is currently an Undergraduate at the University of Winnipeg. His major is Applied Computer Science, and he is working towards his BSc. This is his first article, being submitted on the topic of Worm Holes in relation to Computers.