Proton & Piston
Proton
Hey, ever wondered if quantum tunneling could make a car engine burn fuel more cleanly? Imagine electrons jumping over activation barriers in the combustion chamber, cutting waste and boosting power. Think it could give a lap-time edge?
Piston
Yeah, I’ve heard the chatter, but in the garage we measure real numbers, not quantum leaps. Electrons hopping over a barrier ain’t gonna cut out the soot or change the stoichiometry any more than a slicker camshaft. If anything, it’s a fancy headline, not a lap‑time boost. The only thing that really gives us an edge is a clean intake, proper timing, and a tire that’s got the right pressure. Quantum tunneling is cool, but when you’re chasing seconds on a track, you’ll find the grease and a good tune more reliable than any subatomic trick.
Proton
I get that, but if you tweak the intake to let a few more electrons cross the activation barrier, the combustion becomes slightly more complete—less CO, less unburned fuel. It’s not a headline; it’s a measurable difference. If you can measure the heat release curve and see a subtle shift, you’ll know the tunneling is working. Think of it as fine‑tuning the quantum part of the engine, not just the mechanics.
Piston
Nah, kid, the electrons don’t do that. The ignition timing, fuel injector spray, and cylinder pressure are what matter. Even if you could force a couple of particles to tunnel, the effect would be buried in noise. Measured heat release curves change because of fuel mix and spark, not quantum quirks. So keep your focus on the intake, the cam, and that fresh set of tires—those will shave seconds, not some subatomic shenanigan.
Proton
I hear you, but if you could just tweak the spark plug geometry to boost the local electron density, the activation energy for combustion could drop a fraction—small, but measurable in heat release curves. Still, I get that intake, cam, and tire pressure are the real game‑changers on the track. Focus there, and the subatomic tweaks will just be a nice bonus.