On 23 May 2016 at 18:52,  (via tml list) wrote:

> I ratber suspect that moving a mass of X and having a mass of X
> suddenly "appear" are going to be more than a bit different in
> regards to the magnitude of the waves produced.
>
>
> --
> Leonard Erickson (aka shadow)
> shadow at shadowgard dot com

I would also expect them to have a different shape. Movement should be fairly subtle,
being a change in direction and strength of an existing signal. Jump emergence would
produce a sudden presence of a signal where there wasn't one previously, and
depending on one's view of what happens to all that jump fuel might well have a
distinct pattern as remaining fuel from the jump bubble rapidly moves off in all
directions. Add in the electromagnetic signature, and it'll be a pretty distinctive
signature.

Now, how easy it is to detect at range is a whole other question. If the emergence
signature lasts for only a short time, you need a continous whole-sky watch. If the
signal is also relatively small, you need a good set of sensors and analysis systems. On
the other hand, if the signal lasts many minutes and is large, a fairly cheap system that
only scans the whole sky in a few minutes will be sufficient.

IMTU you do need a decent set of sensors, and the signal is quite brief. Thus only class
A and B starports generally have the required sensor net, though a class C port
servicing a hi pop system of TL9+ will probably have one as well, though it could well
be poorly coordinated. You'll get spotted on emergence, but it might not be by the
system navy or traffic control, but rather by some small mmon mining operation's local
traffic control system, and it probably won't tell system control until it does a routine
status report hours later. It may not even alert the local human operator if the
emergence was outside its control zone.

Obviously in time of war or heavy piracy coverage will become better, and more
paranoid about unexpected arrivals.