A physics clue came to me while I was semi-asleep.

It is "caustic quilt", so a mesh that is like quilt
stitching and is formed from caustics, or possibly
characteristic curves.

I just wanted to note it on these groups for the
record; perhaps someone else will make something
more of it before I do.

For those not familiar with caustics, one simple
example is the apple-like curve that can be seen
when light shines in on an angle into a cup of tea.

I will add it to past clues that may help me and
collaborators develop an interstellar drive.

--
https://www.nfld.com/~dalton/dtales.html Salmon on the Thorns (mystic page)
"This could be the final breath; This is life and death;
This is hard rock and water; Out here between wind and flame;
Between tears and elation; Lies a secret nation" (Ron Hynes)

On Mon, 15 May 2023 22:31:56 -0230, David Dalton <dalton@nfld.com>
wrote:

>A physics clue came to me while I was semi-asleep.
>
>It is "caustic quilt", so a mesh that is like quilt
>stitching and is formed from caustics, or possibly
>characteristic curves.
>
>I just wanted to note it on these groups for the
>record; perhaps someone else will make something
>more of it before I do.
>
>For those not familiar with caustics, one simple
>example is the apple-like curve that can be seen
>when light shines in on an angle into a cup of tea.
>
>I will add it to past clues that may help me and
>collaborators develop an interstellar drive.

We already have an interstellar drive, unfortunately for we short
lived species, it will take many lifetimes to get to Proxima Centauri,
let alone any of the less "proximate" suns.

You're a geophysicist. Astrophysics is out of your discipline however
deep time & cladistics is well within. When you understand our lack
of understanding of deep time, come back with some relevant dreams (if
dreams can ever be called relevant).

In article <m7c86ildudikaqrvqocrrttd1nl7r0um06@4ax.com>,
o'Mahoney <libertidad@south.south.com> wrote:

> On Mon, 15 May 2023 22:31:56 -0230, David Dalton <dalton@nfld.com>
> wrote:
>
> >A physics clue came to me while I was semi-asleep.
> >
> >It is "caustic quilt", so a mesh that is like quilt
> >stitching and is formed from caustics, or possibly
> >characteristic curves.
> >
> >I just wanted to note it on these groups for the
> >record; perhaps someone else will make something
> >more of it before I do.
> >
> >For those not familiar with caustics, one simple
> >example is the apple-like curve that can be seen
> >when light shines in on an angle into a cup of tea.
> >
> >I will add it to past clues that may help me and
> >collaborators develop an interstellar drive.
>
> We already have an interstellar drive, unfortunately for we short
> lived species, it will take many lifetimes to get to Proxima Centauri,
> let alone any of the less "proximate" suns.

Perhaps we will find that, like energy levels of the hydrogen
atom, there are corresponding levels of the speed of light,
and so far we have accessed just the lowest level. This
may be related to branches of the inverse tangent function,
and entropy (S-Atan). :-)

> You're a geophysicist. Astrophysics is out of your discipline however
> deep time & cladistics is well within. When you understand our lack
> of understanding of deep time, come back with some relevant dreams (if
> dreams can ever be called relevant).

Well, I have done introductory astrophysics and spent many
years in a Department of Geophysics and Astronomy, and
have studied some differential geometry and anisotropy,
but I do hope to work with collaborators. And note
that, as described on my web page, I got a peek into
higher dimensions during my sub stare.

--
https://www.nfld.com/~dalton/dtales.html Salmon on the Thorns (mystic page)
"This could be the final breath; This is life and death;
This is hard rock and water; Out here between wind and flame;
Between tears and elation; Lies a secret nation" (Ron Hynes)