Carrier, red, and blue drives use the same gap and packet spacing with different signs. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.
highlighted = computed this step
Carrier drive uses only the internal gap
With gap 8 joules and packet spacing 2 joules, the carrier drive is 8 joules and keeps packet 2 unchanged.
Edrive=8J,n:2→2
Red sideband subtracts one motional packet
The red row keeps the same gap and spacing, but spends one packet: 8 minus 2 gives 6 joules.
8J−2J=6J,n:2→1
Blue sideband adds one motional packet
The blue row uses the same source, but adds one packet: 8 plus 2 gives 10 joules.
8J+2J=10J,n:2→3
The sign of the motional packet selects six, eight, or ten joules
The three-row scan isolates the relation: gap stays eight joules, spacing stays two joules, and only the drive role changes the packet update.