E: D maths generally work the same way : items have intrinsic characteristics, and physical rules between items are set once and for all and universal. Everything in-between results from these, there is mostly nothing like "If (something specific) then (behave differently)".
The effective detection range doesn't staticly equal the "typical range" written on the sensor's label.
Memories from old readings, please double-check before trusting :
Rule #2 : The effective detection is the typical range factored by essentially the target's heat signature. Means : a) for the same target, the hotter it is, the farther it will be detectable, b) the same target with the same heat will be resolved further away by sensors with longer typical ranges, c) a target without heat signature, like a shieldless ship on heatsink or running silent, can't be detected nor resolved unless you hit rule #1 below
Rule #1 : most (all ?) targets have an absolute "minimal range" at which they are detected and resolved whatsoever - varies between ~300m and ~1km for human ships, the larger the ship, the farther.
This explains why you can't hug an interceptor without being zapped/missiled/EMPed or hide right next to a human NPC. You can come as close as xxx meters (xxx depending on your ship) but the next meter, it will kiss you first.
My guess is the caustic generators are very cold so mostly rule #2 supersedes, but with very short effective ranges. And yes, physically they are BIG, not the small piece of scrap metal they look like from far away.
Additionally, rule #3 : human sensors always detect and resolve for 4 seconds whatever hit the ship/shields with a shot, whatever the distance, whatever the signature.
If you shoot at someone with a long range laser while running silent 5,99km away, you'll be targetable for the next 4 seconds and there is nothing you can do to avoid this.
Obviously Thargoids' detection works differently because 1) in their "sleep" phase we can slaughter them and they don't see sht as long as we remain <20% hot, and 2) the next second they can keep tracking and shooting at us even when we're flying shotless, thrustless and cold like a dead rock. Alien they are, dude.
