Monomolecular wire

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Monomolecular wire (or Monofilament) is a fictional wire, often used as a weapon that consists of single strand of strongly-bonded molecules like carbon nanotubes. Its application is usually to do with cutting objects and severing adjacent molecules. A similar or identical concept may be called a microfilament wire or, as a weapon, a microfilament whip.

[edit] Scientific basis

The science behind this fictional weapon is fairly simple working from the principle that the thinner the cutting edge the more keen the weapon, but there is no element that is currently known that will provide such a strong bonding for the creation of monomolecular materials. Furthermore most representations of monomolecular wire falls short in several places and many uses of them are even more fictitious. Some characters are frequently shown as being able to use this wire as garrotes but without inflicting self-harm on their own hands. Many characters can also throw and control these wires almost telekinetically (how is almost never explained). Wire such as this would in reality not have enough weight to fly properly or place much force behind them (as is the principle of an incision) and would be heavily influenced by the wind.

[edit] Use and variants in fiction

One of the first fictional uses of a monomolecular wire are in the short story "Johnny Mnemonic" by William Gibson. The assassin following the protagonist has a diamond spindle of molomolecular wire (or filament) implanted in his thumb, the idea being that diamond, also made of a single molecule and thus hard enough to not be cut by a monomolecular wire. The top of the thumb, attached to the other side of the wire, was used as a weight and the wire could be used as a whip-like weapon or a garotte. This idea was used in the film Johnny Mnemonic, which was based on the short story. One of the characters in another Gibson book, Count Zero, also uses a monomolecular filament to cross from one building to another.

Among the first references in fiction to a monofilament is in John Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar (1968), where hobby terrorists deploy this over-the-shelf General Technics product across roads to kill or injure the people passing there. According to Brunner, the monofilament will easily cut through glass, metal and flesh, but in any non-strained structure the molecules will immediately rebond. No harm is done if the cut object is not under mechanical stress.

Monomolecular wire is used as the basic building material of the space elevator in Arthur C. Clarke's novel The Fountains of Paradise.

In later series of Battle Angel Alita - Last Order, the monomolecular wire was identified to be capable of penetrating electro-magnetic shield, but was stopped by a stick made up of monomolecular material. Monomolecular wires are seen in the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Cyber City Oedo 808, Hyperion Cantos, the manga Battle Angel Alita, Naruto, Hellsing, My-Hime, Simon R. Green's Deathstalker series, as well as the roleplaying games Shadowrun, and Cyberpunk 2020. Monomolecular wires are also seen in Larry Niven's "Known Space" universe as human-produced "Sinclair Molecule Chain".

Various Imperial and alien technologies in the Warhammer 40,000 universe use monomolecular blades or wire offensively. Possibly the most notable example are Eldar Warp Spiders, whose Deathspinner weaponry traps targets in a mesh of such filaments or the Dark Eldar Shredder weapon which shoots meshes of it.