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I've been thinking some thoughts on the subject and I might as well write them down. Maybe someone will be interested.
How would one (and how would one not) detect the T-1000, a machine composed of 'poly-mimetic alloy?' Assuming it is in faux-human form:
-Visually? Probably not. As he is designed and mainly concerned with fooling humans, for whom vision is the strongest sense, this would probably be the area of his strongest facsimilation. I would expect him to even fool better eyes than a human's in the visible spectrum, under normal circumstances.
--Ultraviolet, Infrared? I suspect there would be notable ultraviolet and infrared discrepancies between an average human and the T-1000 as observed in standard disguise. Thermally though I expect the unit would be able to fool a thermal camera on demand, given a modest dedication of processing power, as he must be able to regulate his body's power generation at the molecular level and hence heat output. Ultraviolet I also think the T-1000 would be able to successfully pass, however, it would probably require a similar amount of processing power to make his outer surface 'seem right' in the ultraviolet spectrum as it does in the visible spectrum. In other words, ultraviolet possible but at cost. Still we are guessing here. How much processing power does it require just to emulate the surface texture of an object as-is?
-Sound? Given that the T-1000 can perfectly mimic voices I don't think it's a stretch to think it could also pass a stethoscope, but outright sonogram seems less likely. A T-1000 faced with such a test would probably avoid it by emulating an object other than a human. Some creatures possessed of greater hearing than a man, sufficient to hear heartbeats from a distance, would probably not hear one from the T-1000 unless it was actively trying to trick them.
-Magnetically, electromagnetically? I do not believe this particular terminator will attract a magnet (unless it is a lonely magnet). That said, its electromagnetic signature would almost certainly be radically different from a person's. It is questionable whether current normally flows through the unit on a regular basis (though it is almost certainly conductive), whereas humans have a nervous system. I'm not sure how this would play out; sharks would be wise to him, sure. Would the T-1000 set off a metal detector? Unless he is able to inhibit his own electrical conductivity, probably. It's a coin toss in my opinion as to whether he could fool a metal detector on demand, due to the unit's self-control at the molecular level.
-Smell, taste? With my limited understanding of chemistry and the olfactory sense I think the T-1000 would probably be odorless under normal circumstances, which would almost certainly be an eventual red flag to someone or something possessed of a strong sense of smell. Although it might be possible to 'acquire' and use some poor person's tissues, to smell like them for a limited period of time, unless absolutely necessary I think the T-1000 would try to simply avoid scrutiny in this area.
-X-ray, gamma ray: Doubtful it can deceive anything more than a very, very simple sensor
-Radar: Probably able to hide from radar but not fool it
How would one (and how would one not) detect the T-1000, a machine composed of 'poly-mimetic alloy?' Assuming it is in faux-human form:
-Visually? Probably not. As he is designed and mainly concerned with fooling humans, for whom vision is the strongest sense, this would probably be the area of his strongest facsimilation. I would expect him to even fool better eyes than a human's in the visible spectrum, under normal circumstances.
--Ultraviolet, Infrared? I suspect there would be notable ultraviolet and infrared discrepancies between an average human and the T-1000 as observed in standard disguise. Thermally though I expect the unit would be able to fool a thermal camera on demand, given a modest dedication of processing power, as he must be able to regulate his body's power generation at the molecular level and hence heat output. Ultraviolet I also think the T-1000 would be able to successfully pass, however, it would probably require a similar amount of processing power to make his outer surface 'seem right' in the ultraviolet spectrum as it does in the visible spectrum. In other words, ultraviolet possible but at cost. Still we are guessing here. How much processing power does it require just to emulate the surface texture of an object as-is?
-Sound? Given that the T-1000 can perfectly mimic voices I don't think it's a stretch to think it could also pass a stethoscope, but outright sonogram seems less likely. A T-1000 faced with such a test would probably avoid it by emulating an object other than a human. Some creatures possessed of greater hearing than a man, sufficient to hear heartbeats from a distance, would probably not hear one from the T-1000 unless it was actively trying to trick them.
-Magnetically, electromagnetically? I do not believe this particular terminator will attract a magnet (unless it is a lonely magnet). That said, its electromagnetic signature would almost certainly be radically different from a person's. It is questionable whether current normally flows through the unit on a regular basis (though it is almost certainly conductive), whereas humans have a nervous system. I'm not sure how this would play out; sharks would be wise to him, sure. Would the T-1000 set off a metal detector? Unless he is able to inhibit his own electrical conductivity, probably. It's a coin toss in my opinion as to whether he could fool a metal detector on demand, due to the unit's self-control at the molecular level.
-Smell, taste? With my limited understanding of chemistry and the olfactory sense I think the T-1000 would probably be odorless under normal circumstances, which would almost certainly be an eventual red flag to someone or something possessed of a strong sense of smell. Although it might be possible to 'acquire' and use some poor person's tissues, to smell like them for a limited period of time, unless absolutely necessary I think the T-1000 would try to simply avoid scrutiny in this area.
-X-ray, gamma ray: Doubtful it can deceive anything more than a very, very simple sensor
-Radar: Probably able to hide from radar but not fool it
