Changes: Warp core

Revision as of 09:23, 16 August 2015

AT: "xx"

Yamato warp core — The internal location of a *Galaxy*-class warp core

Warp core is the common designation for the main energy reactor powering the propulsion system on warp capable starships. During the 22nd century, warp reactors aboard NX-class starships were technically known as the "Gravimetric Field Displacement Manifold". (ENT: "Cold Front") The reactor had eight major components. (ENT: "Desert Crossing") A less common name for this core was antimatter reactor core. (TNG: "Booby Trap", display graphic)

On Federation starships, the warp core usually consists of a matter/antimatter reaction assembly (M/ARA) utilizing deuterium and antideuterium reacting in a dilithium crystal matrix which produces a maximum output of 4,000 teradynes per second. (VOY: "Drone")

22nd century warp cores were designed as oblong cylinders connected by pylon conduits directly into the warp nacelles. (Star Trek: Enterprise) In the 23rd century, the warp core was not situated in the main engineering. The main warp reaction occurred in a dilithium crystal converter assembly which consisted of two flattened rounded nodules situated directly in front of the warp plasma conduits to the warp engines, which were behind a large metal grate. (Star Trek: The Original Series; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II") By 2270, most Federation warp cores were redesigned to consist of a large warp core unit in the secondary hull with matter and antimatter channeling into the core through vertical conduits, with the resulting energy directed to the nacelles through a horizontal conduit leading out from the rear of the core. (Star Trek: The Motion Picture)

Of the original Constitution-class warp core, only the dilithium crystal assembly and the plasma conduits were ever seen in Star Trek: The Original Series. When Doug Drexler was called to design the detailed schematics of a Constitution-class starship, he designed a horizontal warp core that runs two decks below main engineering. [1]^(X) The schematic made a prominent appearance on screen in ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II". Star Trek: The Animated Series also featured a vertical component of the warp core, that extended from the dilithium crystal assembly.

As a safety precaution, the core could be physically ejected from the ship, should an event such as a catastrophic containment failure of the matter-antimatter reaction occur that cannot be corrected. There were also some tactical uses for ejecting and detonating a core on purpose. The detonation could for example be used to neutralize the cascade of a subspace tear or push a ship away from the gravity well of a black hole. (TOS: "That Which Survives"; TNG: "Cause and Effect", "All Good Things..."; VOY: "Cathexis", "Day of Honor", "Renaissance Man"; Star Trek: Insurrection; Star Trek)

Antimatter containment is achieved through the use of magnetic fields, which guide and direct the antimatter through the antimatter engine to injector coils, which precisely compresses and streams the antimatter into the form which enters the dilithium articulation frame. Deuterium, stored in the ship or attracted by the Bussard collectors, is funneled in a stream from the opposite deuterium injector. The molecules enter the lattice matrix of the crystallized dilithium, reacting within it and releasing a tuned energy stream in the form of electro-plasma, a highly energetic form of plasma. The electro-plasma is carried by magnetic plasma conduits throughout the power transfer system. In the Federation power transfer grid, this is the electro-plasma distribution network, comprised of EPS conduits and EPS taps. The most energized stream created is the warp plasma, which exits in twin power transfer conduits connected to the warp nacelles. (ENT: "Cold Front", "These Are the Voyages..."; Star Trek: Insurrection)

During the 23rd century, dilithium crystals were also used in Klingon warp reactions to generate energy at sufficient levels to enable warp flight. In the late 24th century, Klingon reactors used a tritium intermix, a feature not included in Federation and Romulan ships of the same era. (DS9: "When It Rains...") On Romulan starships, a completely different approach was used; an artificial quantum singularity in the warp core was used to harness the energy necessary to power warp flight. (TNG: "Timescape")

Warp cores on starships left resonance traces, allowing for the ability to track vessels. (VOY: "Caretaker")

A warp core could be towed at warp using a tractor beam if calibrated properly. (VOY: "Day of Honor", "Renaissance Man")

When a warp core went offline, deuterium was vital to support basic functions of a ship. Warp cores from shuttlecraft and shuttlepods could augment power if necessary. (VOY: "The Void")

Gallery

Further references

DS9: "The Visitor"

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{at|xx}}
-'''Warp core''' is the common designation for the main [[energy]] reactor powering the [[propulsion]] system on [[warp]]-capable [[starship]]s.  During the [[22nd century]], '''warp reactors''' aboard [[NX class]] starships were technically known as the "Gravimetric Field Displacement Manifold". ({{ENT|Cold Front}}) The reactor had eight major components. ({{ENT|Desert Crossing}})
+[[File:Yamato warp core.jpg|thumb|The internal location of a {{class|Galaxy}} warp core]]
+'''Warp core''' is the common designation for the main [[energy]] reactor powering the [[propulsion]] system on [[warp capable]] [[starship]]s.  During the [[22nd century]], '''warp reactors''' aboard {{class|NX}} starships were technically known as the "'''Gravimetric Field Displacement Manifold'''". ({{ENT|Cold Front}}) The reactor had eight major components. ({{ENT|Desert Crossing}}) A less common name for this core was '''antimatter reactor core'''. ({{TNG|Booby Trap}}, ''display graphic'')
-On [[Federation]] starships, the warp core usually consists of a [[matter]]/[[antimatter]] [[matter-antimatter reaction assembly|reaction assembly]] (M/ARA) utilizing [[deuterium]] and [[antideuterium]] reacting in a crystal matrix which produces a maximum output of 4,000 [[teradyne]]s per second. ({{VOY|Drone}})  [[Lithium]] crystals were used until sometime between [[2265]] and [[2266]] when they were replaced with [[dilithium]] crystals. ({{TOS|Where No Man Has Gone Before|Mudd's Women}})
+On [[Federation]] starships, the warp core usually consists of a [[matter]]/[[antimatter]] [[matter-antimatter reaction assembly|reaction assembly]] (M/ARA) utilizing [[deuterium]] and [[antideuterium]] reacting in a [[dilithium crystal]] matrix which produces a maximum output of 4,000 [[teradyne]]s per second. ({{VOY|Drone}})
-:''In the [[alternate reality]], dilithium crystals are utilized at least as early as [[2258]].'' ({{film|11}})
-nd century warp cores were designed as oblong cylinders connected by pylon conduits directly into the warp nacelles.  In the 23rd century, the main warp reaction occurred in a [[dilithium crystal converter assembly]] which consisted of two flattened rounded nodules situated directly in front of the warp plasma conduits to the warp engines which were behind a large metal grate. By [[2270]], most Federation warp cores were redesigned to consist of a large warp core unit in the secondary hull with matter and anti-matter channeling into the core through vertical conduits then the energy directed to the nacelles through a horizontal conduit leading out from the rear of the core. ({{film|1}})
+nd century warp cores were designed as oblong cylinders connected by pylon conduits directly into the warp nacelles. (''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'') In the [[23rd century]], the warp core was not situated in the main engineering. The main warp reaction occurred in a [[dilithium crystal converter assembly]] which consisted of two flattened rounded nodules situated directly in front of the warp plasma conduits to the warp engines, which were behind a large metal grate. (''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''; {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}) By [[2270]], most Federation warp cores were redesigned to consist of a large warp core unit in the secondary hull with matter and antimatter channeling into the core through vertical conduits, with the resulting energy directed to the nacelles through a horizontal conduit leading out from the rear of the core. ({{film|1}})
+{{bginfo|Of the original {{class|Constitution}} warp core, only the dilithium crystal assembly and the plasma conduits were ever seen in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''. When [[Doug Drexler]] was called to design [[:File:Constitution class schematics.jpg|the detailed schematics]] of a ''Constitution''-class starship, he designed a horizontal warp core that runs two decks below main engineering. ''{{DrexFiles|2009/02/09/never-on-xindi/#comment-1145}}'' The schematic made a prominent appearance on screen in {{ENT|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II}}. ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' also featured [[:File:Warp core TAS.jpg|a vertical component]] of the warp core, that extended from the dilithium crystal assembly.}}
-:''The vertical warp core was never seen in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' (although there was one in [[TAS]] in what seemed to be a modification). During this time, main engineering contained two flattened nodules, situated directly in front of a large metal grate, which were shown as key components of the warp drive (likely to be warp plasma conduits to the warp engines). There may have been a warp core below decks but was never seen on screen. The vertical warp core's first appearance was in {{film|1}} and was seen in all subsequent ''Star Trek'' productions set after TOS.''
-As a safety precaution, the core can be physically [[Warp core ejection system|ejected]] from the ship should an event such as the catastrophic failure of the containment of the [[matter-antimatter reaction]] occur and the crew decides it cannot be corrected. ({{TOS|That Which Survives}}; {{TNG|Cause and Effect}}; {{film|11}})
+As a safety precaution, the core could be physically [[Warp core ejection system|ejected]] from the ship, should an event such as a catastrophic containment failure of the [[matter-antimatter reaction]] occur that cannot be corrected. There were also some tactical uses for ejecting and detonating a core on purpose. The detonation could for example be used to neutralize the cascade of a [[subspace tear]] or push a ship away from the [[gravity well]] of a [[black hole]]. ({{TOS|That Which Survives}}; {{TNG|Cause and Effect|All Good Things...}}; {{VOY|Cathexis|Day of Honor|Renaissance Man}}; {{film|9}}; {{film|11}})
-[[Antimatter containment]] is achieved through the use of magnetic fields, which guide and direct the antimatter through the [[antimatter engine]] to [[antimatter injector|injector]] coils, which precisely compresses and streams the antimatter into the form which enters the [[dilithium articulation frame]]. Deuterium, stored in the ship or attracted by the [[Bussard collector]]s, is funneled in a stream from the opposite [[deuterium injector]]. The molecules enter the lattice matrix of the crystallized dilithium, reacting within it and releasing a tuned energy stream in the form of [[electro-plasma]], a highly energetic form of [[plasma]]. The electro-plasma is carried by [[plasma conduit|magnetic plasma conduits]] throughout the power transfer system. In the Federation [[power transfer grid]], this is the [[electro-plasma system|electro-plasma distribution network]], comprising of [[EPS conduit]]s and [[EPS tap]]s.  The most energized stream created is the [[warp plasma]], which exits in twin [[power transfer conduit]]s connected to the warp [[nacelle]]s. ({{ENT|Cold Front|These Are the Voyages...}}; {{film|9}})
+[[Antimatter containment]] is achieved through the use of magnetic fields, which guide and direct the antimatter through the [[antimatter engine]] to [[antimatter injector|injector]] coils, which precisely compresses and streams the antimatter into the form which enters the [[dilithium articulation frame]]. Deuterium, stored in the ship or attracted by the [[Bussard collector]]s, is funneled in a stream from the opposite [[deuterium injector]]. The molecules enter the lattice matrix of the crystallized dilithium, reacting within it and releasing a tuned energy stream in the form of [[electro-plasma]], a highly energetic form of [[plasma]]. The electro-plasma is carried by [[plasma conduit|magnetic plasma conduits]] throughout the power transfer system. In the Federation [[power transfer grid]], this is the [[electro-plasma system|electro-plasma distribution network]], comprised of [[EPS conduit]]s and [[EPS tap]]s.  The most energized stream created is the [[warp plasma]], which exits in twin [[power transfer conduit]]s connected to the warp [[nacelle]]s. ({{ENT|Cold Front|These Are the Voyages...}}; {{film|9}})
-During the [[23rd century]], dilithium crystals were also used in [[Klingon]] warp reactions to generate energy at sufficient levels to enable warp flight. A difference noticed in the [[24th century]] was that Klingon engines use a [[tritium intermix]] ([[tritium]]/[[antitritium]]) rather than a [[deuterium intermix]]. ({{DS9|When It Rains...}})<br>
+During the [[23rd century]], dilithium crystals were also used in [[Klingon]] warp reactions to generate energy at sufficient levels to enable warp flight. In the late [[24th century]], Klingon reactors used a [[tritium intermix]], a feature not included in Federation and [[Romulan]] ships of the same era. ({{DS9|When It Rains...}}) On Romulan starships, a completely different approach was used; an [[artificial quantum singularity]] in the warp core was used to harness the energy necessary to power warp flight. ({{TNG|Timescape}})
+Warp cores on starships left [[resonance trace]]s, allowing for the ability to track vessels. ({{VOY|Caretaker}})
-On [[Romulan]] starships, a different approach is used; an [[artificial quantum singularity]] in the warp core is used to harness the energy necessary to power warp flight. ({{TNG|Timescape}})
+A warp core could be towed at warp using a [[tractor beam]] if calibrated properly. ({{VOY|Day of Honor|Renaissance Man}})
-In [[2369]], [[Quark]] and [[Barbo]] sold defective warp cores to the [[Tarahongian]]s. ({{DS9|The Nagus}})
+When a warp core went offline, deuterium was vital to support basic functions of a ship. Warp cores from shuttlecraft and shuttlepods could augment power if necessary. ({{VOY|The Void}})
-Warp cores on starships leave [[resonance trace]]s, allowing for the ability to track vessels. ({{VOY|Caretaker}})
-A warp core can also be towed using a [[tractor beam]] if calibrated properly. ({{VOY|Renaissance Man}})
 ==Gallery==
-<gallery>
+<gallery captionalign="left">
-Image:NX Main Engineering.jpg|The warp core of an [[NX class]] starship
+File:NX class warp core.jpg|The warp core of an {{class|NX}} starship
-Image:Constitution original engineering2.jpg|The warp core of a {{ShipClass|Constitution}} starship ([[2266]])
+File:USS Enterprise (alternate universe) warp cores.jpg|Multiple warp cores of the {{class|Constitution|alternate reality}}<br />([[alternate reality]], [[2258]])
-Image:Constitution class refit engineering.jpg|The warp core of a {{ShipClass|Constitution}} refit starship ([[2270s]])
+File:Constitution class warp core exterior, alternate reality.jpg|The exterior of the warp core of the ''Constitution''-class<br />(alternate reality, [[2259]])
-Image:Constitution Engineering.jpg|The warp core of a {{ShipClass|Constitution}} refit starship ([[2293]])
+File:Constitution class warp core interior, alternate reality.jpg|The interior of the warp core of the ''Constitution''-class<br />(alternate reality, 2259)
-Image:USS Hathaway warp core.jpg|The warp core of a {{ShipClass|Constellation}} starship
+File:Constitution original engineering2.jpg|The warp core of a {{class|Constitution}} starship ([[2266]])
-Image:Warp core, Enterprise-D.jpg|The warp core of a {{ShipClass|Galaxy}} starship
+File:Constitution class refit engineering.jpg|The warp core of a {{class|Constitution}} refit starship ([[2270s]])
-Image:USS Equinox warp core.jpg|The enhanced warp core of a [[Nova class|''Nova''-class]] starship
+File:Constitution Engineering.jpg|The warp core of a {{class|Constitution}} refit starship ([[2293]])
-Image:VoyagerWarpCore.jpg|The warp core of an {{ShipClass|Intrepid}} starship
+File:USS Hathaway warp core.jpg|The warp core of a {{class|Constellation}} starship
-Image:Sovereign Warp Core.jpg|The warp core of a {{ShipClass|Sovereign}} starship
+File:Galaxy class warp core.jpg|A forward view of a warp core on a {{class|Galaxy}} starship
-Image:Delta Flyer warp core.jpg|The warp core of the ''[[Delta Flyer II]]'' shuttle
+File:Galaxy warp core elevated view.jpg|An elevated view of the warp core on a ''Galaxy''-class starship
-Image:Dderidex-engine core.jpg|The warp core of a {{ShipClass|D'deridex}} warbird
+File:Defiant Main Engineering.jpg|The warp core of a {{class|Defiant}} starship
+File:USS Equinox warp core.jpg|The enhanced warp core of a {{class|Nova}} starship
+File:VoyagerWarpCore.jpg|The warp core of an {{class|Intrepid}} starship
+File:Sovereign Warp Core.jpg|The warp core of a {{class|Sovereign}} starship
+File:Delta Flyer warp core.jpg|The warp core of the ''[[Delta Flyer II]]'' shuttle
+File:Dderidex-engine core.jpg|The engine core of a {{class|D'deridex}} warbird
 </gallery>
 ==Further references==
 *{{DS9|The Visitor}}
 [[cs:Warp jádro]]
 [[de:Warpkern]]
 [[es:Núcleo Warp]]
+[[fr:Réacteur de distorsion]]
+[[it:Nucleo di curvatura]]
+[[ja:ワープ・コア]]
 [[mu:Warp reactor]]
 [[nl:Warpkern]]
-[[Category:Propulsion technology]]
+[[Category:Warp]]
 [[Category:Energy technology]]