What is do we know about aether?
The word is not unique to Star Army. I've seen it used before. In most
fiction the Aether is a parallel or perpendicular plane residing in the same universe either overlaid with space-time and observable only through special circumstance or in a location unreachable by normal movement. In this example the Aether commonly exists within the universe of the observer. In this respect it commonly a place, a location that has physical properties that may be different than what we can observe in our universe.
The Aether is a universe of effectively limitless energy, discovered by the Yamatai Star Empire in YE 20. Since then, aether has become the cornerstone of the SARPiverse. As technology grew, aether-powered generators became the primary power source of faster-than-light starships of all major nations, and then in increasingly smaller applications. - source: https://wiki.stararmy.com/doku.php?id=technology:aether
From this source information we know that in the SARPiverse the aether is thought to be a universe of effectively limitless energy. We are told via the same source that aether-powered generators produce the power need for many faster-than-light star-ships and for some smaller applications. In this respect aether is implied to be both a place and a form of exotic energy/matter from that same place.
A generator is a dynamo or similar machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity. In this respect a generator can take something like potential/checmical energy of something like coal or gasoline, or the kinetic energy of the wind and turn it into electricity that we can readily use for other purposes but we have sources that seem to contradict each-other.
Think of aether devices as faucets that pierce the dimensional branes and deliver energy on tap. You can get as much energy as you ask for, up until the point your device can't take anymore. The smallest aether generators are about the size of a lunchbox. The equipment used determines the power and efficiency that a device can harness that power. - source: https://wiki.stararmy.com/doku.php?id=technology:aether
An Aether Generator is an energy-providing device powered by Aether. It is the primary power source employed by the Star Army of Yamatai.
“Hanako nodded, and went over to inspect the main aether generator. It was a two-story structure taking up the middle of the engine room, that resembled two tall, finely machined metal flowers facing one another. Each “petal” was a heavily armored panel that connected to the one beside it by means of a central Zesuaium frame. Three of the panels had been blown loose by the massive blast that anti-matter had caused during the battle. Hanako crawled up a warped ladder and took a look at the inside of the generator, where the dimensional energy was harnessed. Things weren't bad inside, considering the circumstances. It would probably run; it just needed the exterior panels replaced, along with its electronic control interface.” - source: https://wiki.stararmy.com/doku.php?id=technology:aether_generator
Aether is basically energy and/or an energized matter/anti-matter plasma that starts reacting as shortly after it's pulled out of the aether. Aether energy (e.g. white beam) moves at light speed, and aether plasma moves however fast you can push it with your coil gun, although if you are producing enough aether plasma, you won't have to push because it'll push you (e.g. aether plasma engines).
I always figured aether energy consists of a wide mix of energy types (basically a full EM spectrum) rather than any particular type (e.g. gamma rays). Scalar waves travel at light speed and cannot be blocked by anything that doesn't block the force of gravity. - source: https://wiki.stararmy.com/doku.php?id=technology:aether and https://stararmy.com/roleplay-forum/index.php?threads/speed-of-aether.53810/#post-337004
Aether is also defined in some fiction as the fifth classical element after earth, fire, water, and air or the raw material of reality. What flows through the patterns of reality. In some fictional works it is a primal force that can't truly be divided, measured, or contained.
Aether energy is defined for SARPiverse in the third source.
What is aether then?
It is defined as an energized matter/anti-matter plasma that starts reacting once it is pulled from the aether. Aether then must be both a type of energy/matter and also a location. This is because normally matter and anti-matter react violently, destroying both the matter and anti-matter and releasing all the energy inherent in that matter and anti-matter. Being a energized plasma would not stop this processes. This means that to exist in this fashion aether is not like every other form of energy or/and it is from a place with different natural laws.
From this point on we will call this aether energy quintessence instead. Ignore the
physics definition of quintessence. The words are interchangeable in most fiction. This is so we can differentiate the place and the energy and also so we do not have to put aether in a matter or energy category. In reality matter and energy are interchangeable. With the know-how and technology you could theoretically do anything with matter that you could do with energy and visa versa. This is not fiction. It is an underlying principle of our universe.
We now know aether devices somehow pull quintessence from the aether. That how is unimportant just yet. We know that quintessence starts to react the moment that it is pulled into our universe. We have three options then. Three competing hypotheses:
- Quintessence is a type of exotic matter.
- The aether does not have the same natural laws that we experience in our observable universe. Different fundamental properties in the aether.
- Both of these things are true.
1. In physics,
exotic matter is
matter that somehow deviates from normal
matter and has "
exotic" properties. A more broad definition of
exotic matter is any kind of non-baryonic
matter—that is not made of baryons, the subatomic particles, such as protons and neutrons, of which ordinary
matter is composed.
Exotic matter could have properties of both matter and anti-matter in equal parts but for some reason cause no anti-matter reaction.
2. Fundamental laws include everything about how our observable universe operate. Chemistry, physics, matter, energy, space, and time. Everything we can observe and everything we observe the effect of but not directly observe such as dark energy and dark matter.
3. It could be a combination of both.