New science division: Particle physics

[QP Evergrande]

Honestly, putting aside how similar that is to my suggestion () I think it's a bad idea to require an emitter of a high quality ore that can melt. That means that if Engineering breaks it, you need mining to repair it...

Therefore, I think the base materials should be stuff that's easily and immediately accessible. The three main ores, Mauxite/Molitz/Pharosium, various gases, and easy reagents like water and welding fuel. Anything more than that shouldn't be a requirement to make the engine run, but a necessity to make it run well.

It is similar, yes, but I was working from a simplified version of my original particle lab concept. And yes, the basic materials needed would be pharosium for the emitter, and molitz for the lens. Also, deuterium or helium gas for the basic fusion reactant, but those aren't in the game at all at present, are they?

Also, as for the melting, if that happens you could be left with, for example, a lump of claretine slag that you have to extract from the machine (screwdriver -> wrench -> crowbar) before it can be used again. The slag can be taken to disposals or the cargo bay or wherever and recycled back into usable ore, so it'd take a bit of time, but not be an irrecoverable setback. Does that answer your concerns?