Tree Diagram

Orihime-1 satellite up-close.

The Tree Diagram (樹形図の設計者 (ツリーダイアグラム) , Jukeizu no Sekkeisha^?, lit. "Designer of the Tree Diagram") was a super-computer which, according to the best renowned scientists in Academy City, was the best in the world. It serves as a powerful computation device for many sectors of Academy City before its sudden destruction due to unforeseen events.

Principles

Use and Capabilities

Under the pretext of weather prediction, Tree Diagram was loaded into the satellite, Orihime 1 (おりひめ1号, Orihime Ichi-gō^?), to monitor many aspects of the city such as weather patterns and security. The true reason why it was loaded onto a satellite orbiting space, was to protect it from external enemies, such as terrorists, human supremacists, and industrial spies.

The computer was so powerful that it did not forecast weather, but predicted it. Once a month, it predicts the movement of the particles in the atmosphere of the entire globe and calculates one month's worth of weather in one go. The Tree Diagram Information Receival Center located in the 23rd School District is the one communicating with Tree Diagram. They send requests to it and also receive information and data from the satellite.

Another use of this computer is to aid researchers with their experiments, such as drug reactions, physiological reactions, electrical reactions, etc. This consent on the other hand, is very difficult to acquire since the Academy City's Board of Directors are the only ones who are able to permit access to Tree Diagram. One permitted use of Tree Diagram was for the 'Level 6 Shift' Project.

The machine is so powerful that it would take 25 years for any other machine to catch up to it's level.

Remnant

Remnant ((残骸 (レムナント), Zangai (Remunanto)^?, lit. "Wreckage") refers to the debris left behind by Tree Diagram after it was destroyed by Index on July 28th of the current year of the timeline. Specifically, it is the core of the supercomputer of the Tree Diagram that can be used to repair it.

Chronology

Toaru Majutsu no Index

Index Arc

Main article:Index Arc

During Touma's fight with Index (while being possessed by John's Pen), Index accidentally directs a Dragon Breath's attack to space and destroys the Orihime 1 satellite, destroying Tree Diagram permanently. Meanwhile, Academy City covers up this incident by announcing that Tree Diagram can't be contacted for an indefinite period.

Tree Diagram being destroyed by Index's Dragon Breath.

Tree Diagram Remnant Arc

Main article:Tree Diagram Remnant Arc

It was revealed that the core of Tree Diagram still remains, and that the satelite might be repearable if it is retreived. Several countries in the world started launching their shuttles to recover pieces of the satellite, and uses the ruse of "showing-off" their space programs to the world, and to prove their reliability to sponsors. However, Academy City was able to recover the most important part of Tree Diagram, the Remnant.

A Level 4 Teleporter Awaki Musujime is sent to retreive it while Mikoto Misaka -- after hearing that the satelite might be repaired -- tried to stop Awaki on her own. During this incident Kuroko Shirai also met Awaki and fought her twice doing her job as a Judgment. Awaki successfully escapes, but is cornered and beaten by Accelerator who unexpectedly snuck out of the hospital at Last Order's request. The core is subsquently destroyed by Accelerator, and Tree Diagram is now beyond repair.

Toaru Kagaku no Railgun

Level Upper Arc

Main article:Level Upper Arc

It is revealed that Kiyama Harumi requested to use Tree Diagram for certain calculations 12 times - for her search on curing her Child Error students, before giving up and opted to create the Level Upper Network instead for her calculations. It is later revealed to have been inspired by Mikoto's clones' Misaka Network.

Sisters Arc

Main article:Sisters Arc

At the end of her rope in trying to stop her clones from being killed in the Level 6 Shift. Mikoto decides that she will manipulate the calculations of Tree Diagram. Her plan is to manipulate it as so it will produce an error in a simulation between Accelerator and Mikoto fighting, and determining that the scientists will rely on Tree Diagram to recalculate the data, she will create a prediction that doesn't involve the Sisters.

She goes to the 23rd School District, and breaks into the Tree Diagram Information Receival Center. She discovers there that her plans have been ruined, as Tree Diagram has already been destroyed and yet the experiments continue. Mikoto later determines, that since the Tree Diagram calculated that Mikoto will be killed on the 185th move against Accelerator, she needs to die on the first move alone to ruin the experiment; knowing that the Tree Diagram is no longer available for recalculations, if such a scenario would occur.

Other Appearances

Pseudepigrapha Railgun

Main article:Pseudepigrapha Railgun

In a short omake comic, a bunch of scientists attempting to create the perfect imitation of Mikoto's physical appearance, discover that they have yet to learn what underwear Mikoto wears. They first try to use the Tree Diagram for calculating Mikoto's panties, but is denied by Tree Diagram itself, stating that they shouldn't use it for "stupid things".

In a humorous reference, Chapter 33 of the Toaru Kagaku no Railgun manga, during Mikoto's infiltration of the Tree Diagram Information Receival Center, a report is shown among other things, referring to the request for Tree Diagram to calculate Mikoto's panties. Mikoto however, doesn't notice this.