Hypermatter reactors how common are they?
From SW2ICS page 3:
Also the trade federation core ship diagram the primary reactor is identified as a hypermatter reactor. Also on page 18:Power Sources
Most starships use fusion systems that confine more-powerful hypermatter
annihilation cores. The interiors of the mightiest war vessels are dominated
by huge reactors cores and ultra-dense fuel silos, which enable them to
perform massive planetary bombardments and sustain hours of thousand-G accelerations before refueling."
From these quotes we learn these points:"Core-Ship design has changed little in the last century. In a typical display of Neimoidian thrift, the spheres can serve a variety of craft: The split-ring freighter-battleships of the Naboo blockade; larger, unarmored container vessels and tankers; and newer warships of the post-Naboo period, including cruisers with improved weapons placement and smaller, faster destroyers that defend the fleets and chase down blockade runners."
1. Most starships civilian and military employ hypermatter reactor. Most starships implies that nearly all hyperspace capable vessels, use hypermatter reactors
2. A mere shipping company uses hypermatter reactors in large unarmored container vessels and tankers. So the tech can not possibly be that expensive or rare. Hypermatter technology is in common use.
3. Hypermatter technology had existed for at least 90-100 years prior to TPM. Because Core-Ship design has changed little in the last century, changing over to a brand new power source would certainly be more than a 'little' change.
5. Hypermatter reactions involve some form of annihilation reaction.
6. We are given an explanation of why all hyperdrives contain fusion systems, as they are a preparatory stage in the HM annihilation process.
7. SWICS2 implies that Hypermatter is the fuel for most large reactors which would include ISD/VSD reactors.
Don’t ISD’s use Solar Ionization Reactors as there primary power source?
As to ISD's mounting Solar Ionization reactors. Well the operating principles of the SIR have never been describe in official sources, but the SW2ICS tell us that hypermatter reactor cores are confined with in a larger reactor. A SIR must be a specific type hypermatter reactor. It might be the case that a SIR adds on to the basic hypermatter annihilation process, allowing the designers to call it a Solar Ionization Reactor.
Here's some speculation by Darth Wong:
That ISD’s are stated to employ SIR's does not mean they do not use hypermatter.If we look at the term "solar ionization" then it must simply refer to the energy conversion process. The word "solar" shouldn't even exist
in the SW galaxy, since Sol is OUR sun and doesn't exist there. At the very least, the term should be "stellar ionization" rather than "solar ionization." However, I will accept that the writers probably never thought of the fact that the word "solar" would have no meaning to a civilization that was not based on Earth.
Ionization refers to the act of stripping the electrons off the nuclei, and this REQUIRES energy rather than GENERATING energy. Therefore, all we can deduce from the term "solar ionization" is that whatever mechanism the reactor uses to generate energy, it uses that energy to ionize stellar gases into plasma. This plasma is probably used to carry energy out of the reactor and into energy conversion facilities where it can be used to power the ship.
Do we know anything about how hypermatter works?
Two things of note here Sienar notes that to build the DS advances in hypermatter are required. Not that entirely new physical principles are needed. If they know that advance are possible then they must have long standing theoretical and practical knowledge on Hypermatter. Secondly a hypermatter reactor apparently uses something called an implosion core.(Ref: Rouge Planet p.39)
Pg. 39: "It's a dream, but an achievable dream, given certain advances in hypermatter technology. An implosion core with a plasma about a kilometer in diameter could power an artificial construct the size of a small moon.
Well taking the various sources into account we can deduce the following facts:
1. From ICS we know that hypermatter reactions involve some form of annihilation reaction.
2. Fusion systems of some sort (though not necessarily nuclear fusion) serve as a preparatory stage in the HM annihilation process. Possibly maintaining an environment where HM reaction can occur.
3. A hypermatter reactor contains an implosion core. Whether the implosion core encompasses the entire reactor or is merely an internal component is unknown.
Speculation:
The various ICS books all reference power generation components such as: power couplings, power cells, induction power generators, transformers and power stabilizing systems ( used to maintain and equalizes the high power levels). We Know that many starship systems use electricity. I believe that Darth Wong’s speculation is correct. Solar Ionization Reactors must be hypermatter reactor, and there must be some way of tapping and converting the power it contains.
We that’s my attempt at trying unify the various quotes we have on hypermatter reactors and hypermatter. I’m looking for feedback on this if anyone has any additional quotes please post them along with any corrects or idea.