Monomolecular wire: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Single strand of atoms or molecules}} |
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'''Monomolecular wire''' is a fictional wire, often used as a weapon, that consists of single strain of strongly-bonded molecules like [[Carbon nanotube|carbon nanotubes]]. Its application is usually to do with cutting objects and severing adjacent molecules. |
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'''Monomolecular wire''' is a type of wire consisting of a single strand of strongly bonded atoms or molecules, like [[carbon nanotube]]s. |
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==In science== |
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The science behind this fictional weapon is fairly simple, but there is no element that is currently known that will provide such a strong bonding for the creation of monomolecular materials. In later series of ''[[Battle Angel Alita - Last Order]]'', the monomolecular wire was identified to be capable of penetrating electro-magnetic shield, but was stopped by a stick made up of monomolecular material. |
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{{expand section|date=January 2018}} |
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[[File:Ag atomic wire.jpg|thumb|200px|The process of forming a monatomic silver wire.]] |
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Organic molecular wires have been proposed for use in [[optoelectronics]].<ref>{{Citation|author = Laurens D. A. Siebbeles, Ferdinand C. Grozema|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=dTqZJKZ-r0EC|title = Charge and Exciton Transport through Molecular Wires|date = July 18, 2011|isbn = 9783527633098|accessdate = January 27, 2014}}</ref> |
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==In fiction== |
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Monomolecular wires are seen in the ''[[Star Wars Expanded Universe]]'', ''[[Cyber City Oedo 808]]'', ''[[Hyperion Cantos]]'', the manga ''[[Battle Angel Alita]]'' and (possibly) ''[[Hellsing]]'', and the roleplaying game ''[[Shadowrun]]''. |
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Among the earliest descriptions of a super-strong filament are the film ''[[The Man in the White Suit]]'', in which a scientist develops a monofilament cloth fibre that will never wear out, and [[Theodore Sturgeon|Theodore Sturgeon's]] "The Incubi of Parallel X" (Planet Stories, Sep 1951),<ref>{{cite web |title=The Incubi of Parallel X |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?56319 |website=The Internet Speculative Fiction Database |publisher=IFSDB |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref> where a "molecularly condensed fibre" is used as a zipline.<ref name="SFE1">{{cite web |title=Themes: Monomolecular Wire |url=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/monomolecular_wire |website=SFE–The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction |publisher=Gollancz/SFE |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref> |
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An early example of a material similar to monomolecular wire deliberately used as a weapon and cutting tool is "[[borazon]]-tungsten filament" in [[Randall Garrett|G. Randall Garrett]]'s "Thin Edge". (Analog, Dec 1963)<ref>{{cite web |title=Thin Edge |url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?55426 |website=Internet Science Fiction Database |publisher=IFSDB |accessdate=24 May 2020}}</ref> The main character uses a strand from an asteroid towing-cable to cut jail bars and to [[booby-trap]] the door of his room. Many later writers, including [[John Brunner (novelist)|John Brunner]], [[Frank Herbert]], [[William Gibson]] and [[George R. R. Martin]], have also used monomolecular or similar wire as a weapon or tool.<ref name="SFE1" /> |
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Monomolecular wires are also seen in [[Larry Niven]]'s "[[Known Space]]" universe - either as human produced "Sinclair wire" or in "[[Ringworld]]" as the wire connecting the shadow squares. |
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Perhaps the best-known proposed use of monomolecular wire ("hyperfilament") is in the cables of a [[space elevator]]. Although there were a few earlier scientific papers suggesting the concept, a fully realized space elevator was first described in 1979 in [[Arthur C. Clarke|Arthur Clarke's]] ''[[The Fountains of Paradise]]'' and [[Charles Sheffield|Charles Sheffield's]] ''[[The Web Between the Worlds]]''. The concept has been used in later fiction by [[Robert A. Heinlein]], [[Iain Banks|Iain M. Banks]], [[Larry Niven]] and others.<ref name="SFE1" /> |
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In the game [[StarCraft]] the Ultralisk was said to wield a monomolecular blade as a main form of weaponry and the game [[Syndicate Wars]] featured them as a form of booby trap that cut a body to pieces as opposed to tripping them up. |
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==References== |
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Monomolecular wire is used as the basic building material of the space elevator in Arthur C. Clarke's novel [[The Fountains of Paradise]]. |
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{{Reflist}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Monomolecular Wire}} |
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[[Category:Fictional technology]] |
[[Category:Fictional technology]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Wire]] |
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[[Category:Allotropes of carbon]] |
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[[Category:Carbon nanotubes]] |
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[[Category:Transparent electrodes]] |
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[[Category:Refractory materials]] |
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Latest revision as of 10:28, 12 December 2023
Monomolecular wire is a type of wire consisting of a single strand of strongly bonded atoms or molecules, like carbon nanotubes.
In science
[edit]![[icon]](/enwiki/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2018) |
Organic molecular wires have been proposed for use in optoelectronics.[1]
In fiction
[edit]Among the earliest descriptions of a super-strong filament are the film The Man in the White Suit, in which a scientist develops a monofilament cloth fibre that will never wear out, and Theodore Sturgeon's "The Incubi of Parallel X" (Planet Stories, Sep 1951),[2] where a "molecularly condensed fibre" is used as a zipline.[3]
An early example of a material similar to monomolecular wire deliberately used as a weapon and cutting tool is "borazon-tungsten filament" in G. Randall Garrett's "Thin Edge". (Analog, Dec 1963)[4] The main character uses a strand from an asteroid towing-cable to cut jail bars and to booby-trap the door of his room. Many later writers, including John Brunner, Frank Herbert, William Gibson and George R. R. Martin, have also used monomolecular or similar wire as a weapon or tool.[3]
Perhaps the best-known proposed use of monomolecular wire ("hyperfilament") is in the cables of a space elevator. Although there were a few earlier scientific papers suggesting the concept, a fully realized space elevator was first described in 1979 in Arthur Clarke's The Fountains of Paradise and Charles Sheffield's The Web Between the Worlds. The concept has been used in later fiction by Robert A. Heinlein, Iain M. Banks, Larry Niven and others.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Laurens D. A. Siebbeles, Ferdinand C. Grozema (July 18, 2011), Charge and Exciton Transport through Molecular Wires, ISBN 9783527633098, retrieved January 27, 2014
- ^ "The Incubi of Parallel X". The Internet Speculative Fiction Database. IFSDB. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- ^ a b c "Themes: Monomolecular Wire". SFE–The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Gollancz/SFE. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
- ^ "Thin Edge". Internet Science Fiction Database. IFSDB. Retrieved 24 May 2020.