“I haven’t really gotten round to considering the k-physics of black holes,” Clifford said, turning his back on the rail to face the other two. “But now that you mention it, it’s an interesting point. According to k-theory, a particle appears to be created when two hi-domain functions interact to produce a k.”
Morelli held up a hand to interrupt. “Just a second. Hi-domain . . . that’s the higher order of existence outside normal spacetime. Check?”
“Check,” Clifford agreed. “A k-function exists in both hi- and lo-domains together. Now, the large number of annihilations taking place inside the reactor back there will produce a flux of hi-domain particles—a kind of radiation, if you like, not detectable in normal space. Since this radiation is not subject to the limitations of ordinary spacetime, it will be capable of escaping from the black hole.” Clifford nodded to himself. “Yes. Outside the hole there will be a flux of hi-particles. These can interact with each other to produce k-particles, which are detectable. What you would see are particles apparently appearing spontaneously . . . looking like conventional radiation coming out of the hole. As I said, I haven’t gotten round to working out the details, but qualitatively the theory sounds okay.”
“So there are two possible explanations for it,” Morelli summarized. “Hawking Effect and k-theory.”
“That’s about it.”‘ Clifford seemed pleased.
“The first involves conventional quantum probabilities; the second doesn’t but talks about hi-radiation instead . . . as an intermediary agency.”
“Uh huh.”
Morelli seemed very interested. “It would be something if we could figure out some kind of experimental test to see which one fits,” he said. “Any ideas?”
“Difficult,” Clifford admitted. “In either case you’d expect to see the same thing. I guess the only approach would be to calculate precisely the intensity of the observed field that each theory predicts. Several people have already done that for Hawking Effect; when I’ve had a chance to think about it, I could probably give you some numbers for the other. Then we’d just have to do some accurate measuring to see which one fits best.”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Aub asked him.
“What?”
“The hi-radiation. That’s the big difference between the two theories. Yours says that there ought to be an intense source of hi-radiation inside that thing; the other one doesn’t. So why not simply test for that?”
Clifford looked at him quizzically. “How can we test for it? It doesn’t exist in ordinary spacetime. It doesn’t interact with our universe in any way, except when it produces k-functions, but they appear as conventional forms of energy. So we can only infer the existence of the hi-radiation indirectly . . . which is what we’ve been saying all along. We don’t have any kind of instrument that can respond to it directly.”
“That’s my whole point,” Aub insisted. “I think I could make one that does.”
“Make one?”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it for a coupla days now. Remember that picture I showed you when I called that first time? It was a track of a particle rotating continually through hi-space and normal space . . . vanishing and reappearing all the time.”
“Okay. So?”
“Well, the mode of rotation should be influenced by hi-radiation. That means that it does interact in an observable fashion with our universe. I figure I could design an instrument based on that principle. Essentially it would be a special kind of ion chamber in which you could measure the effect of incident hi-radiation on the tracks of particles with full k-spin. To test out the idea, I knew that we’d need a concentrated source of hi-particles.” He gestured downward in the direction of the reactor sphere. “Now it looks as if we’ve got one.”
Clifford stared at him in astonishment. “A hi-radiation detector . . . ? You’re joking.”
“I am like hell.”
“Any idea how long it’d take?” Morelli joined in, becoming intrigued.
“Depends how soon you tell me I can start,” Aub replied, grinning unashamedly. He didn’t believe in beating around the bush.
It was early evening by the time they left. Morelli walked with them to the pad where the airmobile was waiting to take them back to Logan. As they were about to turn to climb aboard the vehicle, he shook hands with both of them.