What happens if you beam a person to the exact same space a person already is in?

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

In the case of Star Trek IV in which Gillian Taylor jumped into Kirk's transporter beam, this forcefield maybe even prevent objects from fusing together.

If it detects that two objects are significantly different enough (so DNA-wise in the case of living things), or different enough on a molecular level (two identical to the naked eye boxes).

If two identical twins are beamed at the same time, might they be accidentally combined because the transporter mistook them for one person? Or does the transporter detect epigenetic differences, too?

 

[C.E. Evans]

If it detects that two objects are significantly different enough (so DNA-wise in the case of living things), or different enough on a molecular level (two identical to the naked eye boxes).

If two identical twins are beamed at the same time, might they be accidentally combined because the transporter mistook them for one person? Or does the transporter detect epigenetic differences, too?

If we go with an idea presented in the TNG Technical Manual that transporters for living beings utilize "quantum resolution," the transporter scanners can possibly detect even the most minute differences between two people being beamed together, even if they are identical twins (even twins may have some minor cellular differences at that resolution).

 

[David cgc]

If we go with an idea presented in the TNG Technical Manual that transporters for living beings utilize "quantum resolution," the transporter scanners can possibly detect even the most minute differences between two people being beamed together, even if they are identical twins (even twins may have some minor cellular differences at that resolution).

If there were any risk at all of that, people would be regularly finding their skin and clothes interpenetrated, air from their lungs in their chest cavity, the circuits in the communicators and tricorders crossed and shorted... for the transporter to work at all, they have to be cutting things finely enough that there's no chance of anything within the beam being accidentally repositioned, no matter how small, how similar, or how slightly. Indeed, it has to go even further beyond that, since we've seen the transporters reposition people, moving them from sitting to standing so they don't fall on their rears after being taken out of an exploding shuttle, or something.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

If we go with an idea presented in the TNG Technical Manual that transporters for living beings utilize "quantum resolution," the transporter scanners can possibly detect even the most minute differences between two people being beamed together, even if they are identical twins (even twins may have some minor cellular differences at that resolution).

Yeah, at the quantum level needed to preserve a human mind, there would be nothing but differences, because it's a snapshot full of random data.

You know how a video of static "snow" and white noise takes up a huge amount of space, because every random pixel had to be recorded? If the transporter concept we go with really does disassemble your atoms, the amount of data involved for six people on the pads is unimaginable.

Sending people whole through a subspace tunnel solves a lot of problems, even if it too is an imaginary process.

 

[Vger23]

It would destroy such life in favor of its new matrix.

 

[Tallguy]

It would destroy such life in favor of its new matrix.

"It would destroy such life in favor of its new matrix."

No? I wasn't sure that would Fly.

 

[Pauln6]

The transporter's targeting scanner would block the beam-down attempt due to invalid coordinates. Please re-target and try again.

Unless it's as sophisticated as Holodeck health and safety:

"Computer, disable transporter safety protocols."

 

[CorporalCaptain]

He is a dark thought. They didn’t beam Christopher and the guard anywhere. Their pre-existing versions prevailed in their respective given time and space and their future selves went…nowhere.

That contradicts what was shown on screen. If Christopher and the guard went nowhere, then why did their earlier selves get subjected to the transporter effect? They're shown on screen being energized, and at different times than they were before.

https://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/al...is-yesterday/tomorrow-is-yesterday-br-769.jpg
https://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/al...is-yesterday/tomorrow-is-yesterday-br-785.jpg
https://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=205&page=33

Nah, they Tuvixed them.

 

[Shawnster]

Nah, they Tuvixed them.

That's always been my understanding, even before Tuvix was a thing.

 

[aquova]

You and any creature beaming with you takes 4d6 force damage, and the transporter fails to beam you.

 

[Skipper]

I had an idea in prehistoric (pre-internet) times that transporter beams may also utilize a forcefield during the beaming process to help maintain the integrity of the object or person being transmitted. Amazingly. the old TNG Technical Manual would later feature something called an "annular containment beam" that was exactly what I was thinking of. This forcefield would basically be a shield around the the subject being transported and would be released only after the process was over. If we go with that, then it might be possible that if anyone happened to be standing at the exact same beam down coordinates, that person might be gently (or maybe roughly) pushed out of the way. In the case of Star Trek IV in which Gillian Taylor jumped into Kirk's transporter beam, this forcefield maybe even prevent objects from fusing together.

This would also solve the problem of air being present at the transporter destination.

 

[Oddish]

In the novel, when Gillian jumped into the transporter with Kirk, Kirk asked her "do you know how dangerous that was? No, how could you?" Which suggests that transporters have safety systems, but they can be overwhelmed by foolhardy actions.


In answer to the original question, what would happen if all safety measures were overridden or failed, and person B was materialized inside person A?

Answer: A big mess.

 

[HIjol]

Gillian Tiberius; the HIjol'verse Love Child of Kirk and Gillian, somehow generated (Genisis-ed?) by a Transporter accident caused when Gillian jumped into the Transporter just as Kirk was being beamed.

Later to become Captain Gillian Tiberius, in Command of the USS Gracie.
She rigged the Gracie for automatic operation and traveled back in time from the HIjol'verse and wormholed to the Rodden'verse and point in Timeline at which the Humpbacks, George and Gracie, were deposited, to set things rightin that 'verse. She witnessed the Jumping and Frolicking in the Waters of San Francisco Bay, as her alternate self and Bounty Crew celebrated their original success.
She then found joy, purpose and anonymity as head of "The George and Gracie Cetacean Foundation, dedicated to repopulating Earth with humpbacks...

 

[Oddish]

There was such a group, in the novel. Part of its purpose was that it used archived genetic samples from humpback whales to clone additional specimens. George, Gracie, and their calf could not hope to repopulate their species alone, but would be essential in passing on the language and culture to the new arrivals.

 

[Qonundrum]

Txuivviuxt? VOY could have done a sequel...

 

[Oddish]

Why not mix some other people instead? Turn Harry and the captain into Kimway? Or Seven and Kes into Kevin of Nine?

 

[evilchumlee]

IF the transporter let it happen, TMP happens.

"What we got didn't live long."

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

Why not mix some other people instead? Turn Harry and the captain into Kimway? Or Seven and Kes into Kevin of Nine?

Uhuratoz!

Suluhura? Oh, my.......GOD.

Spockang!

Trelanelaan? Double the spoils?

Kolothorta?!?!? Chekovanna? Maabones? Scottribbles?

 

[Reymet_2]

Even if you beam a person not to the space a person is in, the space where you beam it is actually almost never empty. If you beam to a planet with an atmosphere, the space where you want to beam a person is already filled with this atmosphere.

So transporter must be capable of removing matter from the space where it beams something.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

Even if you beam a person not to the space a person is in, the space where you beam it is actually almost never empty. If you beam to a planet with an atmosphere, the space where you want to beam a person is already filled with this atmosphere.

So transporter must be capable of removing matter from the space where it beams something.

When people beam into a small, enclosed chamber, the sudden displacement of air should increase the pressure and make their ears pop, like on an airplane.
https://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/al...urn-to-tomorrow/return-to-tomorrow-br-113.jpg

More broadly, every planet they beam down to would have slightly different air pressure than the ship, and they'd feel it in their ears.