Plasma is a state of matter. To be more exact, plasma is an ionized gaseous state, which is commonly seen in an electrical arc. Plasma is the main energy medium used to channel power to systems via EPS conduits in almost all starships. A plasma relay technician is responsible for rerouting plasma to systems they are not currently allocated to. (VOY: "Good Shepherd")
In physics, studies of plasma include plasma dynamics and plasma physics. (TNG: "Peak Performance", "True Q") Individuals who specialize in these fields, and more, include plasma specialists and EPS control specialists. (TNG: "The Game"; ENT: "The Forgotten")
History and use
In 2032, John Kelly's Ares IV command module was equipped with an ion distributor, a primitive form of an EPS conduit which could be adapted for use with the warp plasma from the Delta Flyer. (VOY: "One Small Step")
Typically, warp drive capable civilizations used super-energized "electro-plasma" in their power transfer systems, EPS for short. The electro-plasma was used as both warp plasma for the engines and was also converted into standard electrical energy when fed off an EPS tap. Federation EPSes were designed around matter-antimatter reaction assemblies (usually warp cores) or fusion reactors (sometimes the impulse reactors). Besides the large warp plasma conduits, there were smaller plasma conduits, with EPS couplings that transferred power as electricity to all subsystems connected to the power transfer grid. If a plasma conduit or EPS tap became ruptured, the contents could set off a plasma fire. (ENT: "The Forgotten"; VOY: "Investigations")
In 2151, Enterprise NX-01 was hit in the port nacelle by an unidentified alien vessel and lost drive plasma. (ENT: "Silent Enemy")
In 2368, the crew of the USS Enterprise-D managed to turn dust particles in the atmosphere of Penthara IV into plasma by means of a phaser beam and electrostatic energy. (TNG: "A Matter of Time")
Aboard Deep Space 9 plasma was transported through the power conduits. In 2369, Ensign Aquino detected an irregulation in the plasma flow and investigated this. (DS9: "In the Hands of the Prophets")
Storage
Plasma could be stored in plasma canisters or plasma infusers for mobile use, and was used in plasma torches and plasma weapons (such as plasma charges, plasma waves, plasma rifles and plasma torpedoes). It could also be found naturally occurring, such as the energetic anomalies found in plasma storms and plasma fields. The Badlands were one such example of both anomalies. (VOY: "Caretaker")
Plasmas
See also
- Plasma burn
- Plasma field
- Plasma surge
- Phase
- Plasmic fiber
- Plasma phaser
- Plasma torch
- Plasma extinguisher
- Tricyclic plasma drive
| Phases of matter |
|---|
| Gas • Liquid • Plasma • Semi-solid • Solid |