Fiction:Perseus Coalition of Worlds/Technology/Transport

Superluminal
Relevent concepts: μMatter

Alkagen
Alkagen is the lightest of all meta-elements, represented by the symbol (Ak). The atom is only composed of one proton and up to two neutrons. Because there is only one proton, there is only one possible electrope of alkagen because only one muon can ever bind to the nucleus. Because there are no electrons present in the atom, it is completely chemically inert. Alkagen has three iostopes, all with different physical and nuclear properties. Because the muon orbits the proton so much closer than in alkagens periodic counterpart hydrogen, alkagen is much denser.

Alkagen-1 is a gas at room temperature but can be easily turned into a gas through moderate levels of pressure. Because of its chemical inactivity, it has few applications in industry except to be converted into other isotopes through neutron bombardment.

Alkagen-2 has a greater density than alkagen-1 due to its greater atomic weight. because of this, it is a liquid at room temperature although it is still seven times less dense than water. because the muon is so close to the nucleus of the μatom, Alkagen-2 is able to fuse at much lower temperatures and pressures than hydrogen.

Alkagen-3 is also a liquid, like alkagen-2. However, it is radioactive and has a half-life of 12 years. Alkagen-3 can fuse with Alkagen-2 at room temperature. This is useful in for such applications as cold-fusion power, propulsion and fusion weaponry and as a result, is a valuable resource for most space-faring species.

Alkagen is by far the most common meta-element. It can be harvested from the nebulae left over from supernovae where in the past, cosmic radiation from the supernova bombarded hydrogen intensely enough to produce stable volumes of it. This is almost entirely alkagen-1 however. In order to obtain the large quantities of alkagen-2 and 3 needed for industrial and commercial application, alkagen-1 is bombarded with neutrons to form the heavier isotopes.

Solareon
Solareon is the second lightest meta-element and is represented by the symbol (So). it contains two protons and between one and two neutrons with solareon-4 being by far the most common isotope. Because of the density that the muon gives it, solareon is a liquid at room temperature. It has a gold color and an almost metallic sheen cause by the way the muon makes the individual atoms absorb and re-emit light. Solareon has two possible electropes, solareon[I] and solareon[II].

Solarium[I] has one electron in its outer shell which makes it behave chemically like hydrogen while being much denser due to its greater number of nucleons. It can be used to make exotic polymers, replacing the less dense hydrogen which forms much denser and stronger materials. These are frequently used in sheild construction and armour.

Solareon[II] has no electrons in the atom, this gives it the same fusional properties as alkagen because of the distance between the nuclei. A sample of solareon will sparkle because of the light that microfusion events between the much less concentrated solareon[II] atoms in the sample emits. Because there are no electrons in the atom, solareon[II] is chemically inert. This makes it not very useful industrially on its own.

Like alkagen, solareon is obtained by collecting it from the nebulae left over after supernovae. However, it is found in much lower concentrations in these nebulae so this is not the primary source for most empires. The main source of solareon for most industrial use is as a byproduct of alkagen cold-fusion. It is produced is large quantities from transmutation reactor built for the purpose of solareon production specifically.