Stellification

Stellification is the process of introducing devices into a cosmic object and, after a period of time, causing it to radiate light and heat equivalent to a small star. These engines are usually used in the reconstruction of jovian (Jupiter-like gas giant) moons, brown dwarf or white dwarf systems as an aid to terraforming or creating energy.

Stars are very inefficient fusion reactors, on the scale of about 0.8% and producing 1 watt per cubic metre. The best that nuclear fusion stations can do currently is about 3%, so the ultimate aims of stellification are the storage of fuels as well as reaction efficiency. It is conceivable that an advanced civilization would create an artificial star able to last trillions of years, long after its primary star had burned out.

Types of engines:

 * An artificial black hole is introduced into the body. After a period of time (usually about a century) spent orbiting back and forth inside the interior, its singularity comes more or less to rest in the center of the body where it begins to consume its mass. As material falls into the hole, it is heated to immense temperatures and large amounts of energy radiate outward.
 * One or more self-replicating fusion reactors are introduced into the upper atmosphere of the target jovian or brown dwarf. Each reactor uses proton-proton fusion to consume the surrounding atmosphere and convert it into energy and raw materials. The energy produced is released as light and radiation, while the materials are used to build another reactor.
 * When magnetic monopoles using exotic magmatter are deployed into the interior of the object, it is channeled into millions of microscopic conversion reactors coating the structure's surfaces and converted into energy which radiates outward, causing the frame to glow at stellar intensity levels and converting much of the surrounding planetary material to plasma.

The Monolith was an alien device used to stellify Jupiter.