Minovsky particle – MechaBay

The Minovsky particle, also known as the M particle, was an elementary particle discovered within the Minovsky-Ionesco reactor by the Minovsky Physics Society in UC 0065. The particle was named after Professor T V Minovsky, who pioneered its research and applications.

History

The Minovsky Physics Society discovered an unexplained electromagnetic wave effect while studying the Minovsky-Ionesco reactor in UC 0065. Further research revealed this was caused by a new elementary particle generated by helium-3 reactions on the reactor’s inner walls. This particle was named the Minovsky particle.

The discovery of the Minovsky particle and its effects on electronics and communications had profound implications for warfare in the Universal Century. It led to the development of close-range combat mobile weapons like the mobile suit, as long-range guided weapons became impractical.

Properties

Minovsky particles had near-zero rest mass, though their mass increased with potential or kinetic energy. They could carry either positive or negative electrical charges. When scattered in open space or air, repulsive forces between charged particles caused them to align into a cubic lattice structure called an I-field.

The particles interfered with electromagnetic radiation, particularly affecting:

Radio waves and microwaves
Electronic circuits
Infrared signals
Radar systems
Visual light

This interference became known as the “Minovsky Effect”. The small lattice structure of the I-field created fringes that blocked long wavelengths and diffracted wavelengths similar to the fringe spacing.

Applications

Reactor technology

Minovsky particles were crucial to the development of compact fusion reactors. The particles’ I-field could contain fusion reactions and block infrared radiation, allowing for smaller shielding requirements. This led to the creation of the Minovsky ultracompact fusion reactor in UC 0071, which became the standard power plant for mobile suits.

Weapons technology

The particles formed the basis for several weapon technologies:

Beam weapons using energy capacitors
Mega particle cannons
I-field barrier defence systems

Propulsion systems

The I-field’s interaction with conductive materials enabled the development of:

Minovsky craft system
Minovsky drive
Minovsky flight system

Counter-measures

The only effective counter-measure to Minovsky particle interference was installing bulky electromagnetic shielding on electronic equipment. While this was feasible for large vessels, it was impractical for smaller vehicles and guided weapons. This limitation helped drive the shift toward close-range combat tactics during the One Year War.

Behind the scenes

The Minovsky particle was created by Tomino Yoshiyuki to explain why mobile suits needed to engage in close combat despite the futuristic setting. The particle’s effects on electronics and communications provided a scientific basis for returning to more visually dramatic close-range battles.

External links

Minovsky particle on the Gundam Wiki
Minovsky particle on the Japanese Wikipedia