Making sense out of Doom's Argent Energy psuedo science

[BodyPolitic]

First off, obviously the ideas on Argent energy are fictional, but it does seem the writers did try to apply some self consistancy to the rules. With that in mind, making the jump to if a substance like Argent Energy existed, does Doom's explinations of how it works hold water?

Energy is a measurement of work capabilty with Argent Energy being a source that surpasses Nuclear power after refining.

http://images.akamai.steamusercontent.com/ugc/253715291189547193/313631C74835F419B6104E50B107646892A03CB1/

They kind of go into that proccess in the Codex entries. Basically it was discovered in its raw form as Argent Plasma, then by nuetron bombardment it is converted to Argent Energy. I guess that flies, as nuetron bombardment of radioactive isotopes is how we currently do nuclear fission in the real world.

Now, is where I get a bit confused or off track. So they bombard the plasma converting it to energy in the form of an exothermal (heat). But here is where I'm a bit lost. Heat energy is often used in power generation via taking that heat to boil water into steam, then using the expansion properties of steam to drive a turbine, which in turn uses that mechanical action to spin magnet (electromagnets?) and generate electricity.

In Doom though Argent energy is given a much wider application, basically servicing the energy needs of all of earth and providing a means to drive further exploration of the solar system. Argent Energy is found in many applications from weapons power to almost being like a battery in some forms. The one thing they keep nailing on, is the efficiency of the power source, thus allowing it to be contained in very small containers, like a hand sized Argent Accumulator possesing enough energy to power a city block. I guess I can see that, if the energy effiency is so high that only minute amounts are loss with each exothermic reaction, then it last a long time. But how are they harnessing this heat energy? Via converting it to electricy? or maybe more like Gasoline, where the heat reaction itself causes such a violent expansion?

Probably most will find this boring or didn't read much codex I mean the game isn't known for its plotting, but like I said looks like they tried to apply some consistancy at least

[BaneOfOrion]

A thermoeletric generator could turn the released heat into electricity, the controlled release of heat could also be used to drive pneumatic/hydraulic systems(possibly, not an expert). While its possible the UAC merely has vastly more efficient thermopile technology, its probably just technobabble.

[The Good Dave]

Ummm... shooty aliens go boom?

[BodyPolitic]

Originally posted by BaneOfOrion:

A thermoeletric generator could turn the released heat into electricity, the controlled release of heat could also be used to drive pneumatic/hydraulic systems(possibly, not an expert). While its possible the UAC merely has vastly more efficient thermopile technology, its probably just technobabble.

Yeah your probably right about some technobabble. It's just interesting exploring these fictional procceses, like how element Zero worked in Mass Effect. In hard sci fi author's will sometimes start with 1 impossible thing, but then try to build as logically as possible around that, like if earth finally figured out stable cold fusion, or Argent Engergy. Not that I would call Doom hard sci fi or even trying to be. Its kind of surprising how much they did put into the codex entries instead of just being like, some cultist slaughterd a baby goat and hell energy escaped haha, or maybe Olivia solved the wrong puzzle box...

[BodyPolitic]

So far I've been rather impressed by this game's self consistancy. One part struck me as wrong though. When reading a codex for Samuel Hayden it states that e live streamed pulling down a 12 foot lever to turn on the Argent Energy distrobution center, providing energy to earth. It wouldn't be a live stream though at least not to earth because there's a built in delay due to the distance and the speed of light. Which would be around 4 minutes minimum and the maximum of around 24 minutes depending on where the planets are in thier orbits.

At first I was thinking maybe they got around that via teleportation, but in the game universe the teleporters all seem to be direct manifestations of hell, while the humans are still forced to ride stuff like monorails to get around still.

I did like thier description of Hayden's transferance into a cyborg, how he wanted to keep his prefrontal lobe and his temporal lobe. The two associated with descision making, personality and memory. While he replaced his occipital lobe (vision) and his Parietal lobe (balance, regestering senses) as he knew computers would do a much better job at that. They mention him rejuvinating his brain tissue w/ stem cells to make himself functionally immortal, but I'm betting he kept one other piece of equipment in order, perhaps hidden in that little black gear that connects his legs to his torso. He did seem to have a keen interest in Olivia...