Zero-Point Energy

**Zero-Point Energy** is the general term for a form of energy generation used by a number of interstellar civilizations. For the most part, normal zero-point energy is simply too weak of an energy source, civilizations specifically use vacuum energy is a special case of zero-point energy that relates to the quantum vacuum.

## Characteristics

Vacuum energy is an underlying background energy that exists in space throughout the entire universe. One contribution to the vacuum energy may be from virtual particles,
 particle pairs throughout the universe that blink into existence and
then annihilate in a timespan too short to observe. Their behavior is
codified in Heisenberg's energy–time uncertainty principle. The effects of vacuum energy are thought to influence the behavior of the universe on cosmological scales.

In the early 21st century, humanity
 contemplated the theoretical possibility of using vacuum energy to
create free energy machines. It was argued that due to the broken
symmetry (in quantum electrodynamics), free energy does not violate conservation of energy, since the laws of thermodynamics only apply to equilibrium systems.

Vacuum energy originates from the beginnings of infinite numbers
of alternate realities. When harnessed for power supply, these fledgling
 universes are drained of energy in their infancy, resulting in their
premature deaths.

## Variants

### Ahab Reactor

The Ahab Reactor is the Ghaz adaptation of Skapari vacuum energy technology. It was first reverse-engineered by Ahab Power, their brand becoming synonymous with the technology.

Ahab Reactors are extremely durable, and will continue to
 produce energy forever. The Formians brand them as 'dirty reactors', producing less energy than their designs, but generating a special type of particle called
 Ahab Particles when a phase transition occurs inside the vacuum device.
 These particles are harmless to life and can be considered a sort of exotic graviton. In addition, Ahab Waves are
generated/emitted from the Ahab Particles.

The Ahab Particles are used
for artificial gravity and inertial control, while Ahab Waves are able
to disrupt radio waves and some forms of guided weapons. Even though
they are mass-produced, each Ahab Reactor produces a unique frequency
that allows sensors to identify them to specific units. Ahab
 Reactors should not be used inside cities because they disrupt the
cities infrastructure and cause power blackouts. It is for these particles that despite Formian improvements, the Ghaz continued to use this style of vacuum device.

Despite their name, Ahab Reactors are largely non-reactive, and will usually outlive the destruction of whatever they are installed in. The gravitic forces of the Ahab particles will eventually result in shoal zones of space debris.

Despite Ahab Reactors being considered inferior by the Formians and other advanced species, the Nisser seem to have found another use for them by syncing the devices in parallel. This gets remarkably squared output compared to using a single reactor, but requires a monumental amount of effort to keep the system stable. Despite this hurdle, the Nisser network's processing power seems to be up to the task.