A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P-Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z

ACB (Acronym for Annular Confinement Beam)
The ACB is a cylindrical force field which is used to ensure that a person being transported remains within the beam. Failure to 
remain within the confinement field can cause a dangerous release of beam energy, possibly fatally injuring the transport subject 
and those nearby. The ACB is being generated by the primary energizing coils of a transporter system. The ACB determines the 
geometry for the subsequent scanning and dematerialization process.

Adaptive interface link 
A connection between computer systems of different origins. An adaptive link is necessary when attempting to transfer data or 
functionality between to disparate types of equipment. In 2369, such a link was used to download data from an alien space probe 
to the computers on station Deep Space Nine.

Android
An android is an automaton made to resemble a human being. This robot, basically consists of a computer system, actuators and 
sensors inside a human-like body. Androids are intentionally designed this way so as to work in the same environment and to 
perform similar tasks as humans.

Antigraviton
These particles are the opposite of graviton particles and are generated in a standard tractor beam. The presence of these 
particles in a transporter emitter coil indicate the use of a tractor beam on that transporter beam.

Antigrav Thrusters 
Thrusters utilizing antigravity to ascent a ship from a planetary surface. USS Voyager is equipped with antigrav thrusters. Antigrav 
thrusters are used in the ascent of Voyager from a surface, and that the landing pylons merely provided additional stability while 
being on the surface. 

Antimatter
Matter whose electrical charge properties are the opposite of 'normal' matter. When two opposite particles of matter and 
antimatter annihilate, a huge amount of energy is released. The controlled annihilation of matter and antimatter is used as the 
power source for the warp drive systems aboard Federation starships. Because of the highly volatile nature of antimatter, it has to 
be stored in special magnetic containment vessels, also known as antimatter pods, to prevent the antimatter from physically 
touching the storage vessel or any part of the ship. The standard abbreviation for antimatter unit is AMU.

	

Antimatter containment
In warp drive propulsion systems refers antimatter containment to the use of magnetic seals and confinement fields to prevent 
antimatter from physically touching the surface of the storage pod or any other part of the starship. Failure of antimatter 
containment is a catastrophic malfunction, generally resulting in total destruction of the spacecraft.

Antimatter generator
Device which is able to generate antimatter for the warp drive in case the ship cannot be resupplied in a refuel facility. It may be 
logical that in normal operation mode onboard antimatter generation is not efficient because it takes more energy then it returns 
as antimatter. Note that the warpdrive can't run on the impulse fusion reactors like all the other ships systems.

Antitime
An occurrence of multi-phasic temporal convergence in which time is running in reverse direction. Just like matter and antimatter 
are time and antitime each other opposite. When colliding they will annihilate each other, causing a breach in space-time upon 
their collision.

Auto destruct
A command program in the main computer system of a Federation starship enabling the destruction of the ship in case it would 
fall into enemy hands. The auto destruct can be initiated by any senior officer, acknowledged by voice recognition and personal 
command code. In all cases it is necessary that the two other senior officers confirm the auto destruct. Sometimes a dermal 
hand print identification verification is also require. A silent count-down can be selected in order not to warn enemy forces that are 
already aboard.

Auto-phaser interlock
A computer control subroutine that allowed for precise timing in the firing of ship-mounted phasers.

Baryon 
Naturally occuring "heavy" particles like protons. Periodically need to be swept from the surface of deep space constructs. 

Baryon Sweep 
High-frequency plasma field used to remove baryon particles from a starship's superstructure. During extended periods of warp 
flight, baryon particles build up on the starship, requiring periodical decontamination. The procedure is deadly to a starship's crew, 
requiring complete evacuation of a starship before the procedure is executed . Baryon particles are a particle family. The 
baryon-family consists of protons and neutrons, the basic elements of an atom's nuclei, and hyperons, which are highly unstable 
particles. It is logical that the baryon sweep is deadly to humans, because it removes all baryon particles it encounters - so all the
protons and neutrons in the atoms of humans! A baryon sweep would completely dematerialize a starship, leaving only a cloud of 
electrons behind.  

	
	Baryon Sweep in progress

Beta-tachyon
A form of particle that can exist only at faster-than-light velocities.

Bilitrium
A crystalline compound that is an extremely rare energy source, which will become a powerful explosive when it is used in 
conjunction with an antimatter converter.

Bio-neural circuit
Advanced computer technology, based on biological components, also referred to as gel packs. Bioneural circuits are employed 
in the most recent Federation starships, such as the Sovereign and Intrepid classes. These circuits can organize and process 
complex information faster and more efficiently than traditional optical processors. This circuit is currently only used as an add-on 
to the optical data network and not as a replacement.

Bio-neural gel pack
This is a component of a bio-neural computer system consisting of a flexible, liquid-tight package, containing synthetic neural 
cells in an gelatinous organic medium. The gel packs were designed for convenient management of the bio-neural circuits and 
can easily be swapped out when needed. Bio-neural processors are vulnerable to viral and other infections, which can affect 
systems performance.

Biogenic weapon
An extremely deadly biological weapon, which it illegal under interstellar treaties. The components needed to construct these 
kind of weapons include biomimetic gel, retroviral vaccines, isomiotic hypos and plasma flares.

Biomimetic gel
A dangerous and highly illegal substance, which is needed to create biogenic weapons. The sale of it is forbidden by Federation 
law. When handled incorrectly it can be very hazardous. Starfleet recommends using Starfleet issue L-647-X-7 containers for 
transport.

Blind beam-out
A transporter technique usually employed as an emergency measure, in which all life-forms in a given area are transported as a 
group instead of each pattern being isolated before transport.

Broad-spectrum warp field
A subspace bubble, which is also referred to as an inverse warp field, which is capable of interfering with the structure of a 
quantum fissure.

Causality Loop 
Sequence of events in which cause and effect cannot be distinguished. A causality loop is possible if a time travel is involved.  

Chroniton
Subatomic particle that transmits temporal quanta. Chroniton particles are normally emitted in small quantities through the 
normal operation of a Romulan cloaking device. Chroniton radiation is deleterious to living tissue, but it is possible to 
inoculate against its effects.

Coaxial Warp Drive 
An FTL propulsion technology which is described as bending space, not subspace, as opposed to conventional warp drive. The 
description of the coaxial warp drive of "folding the fabric of space"  sounds much like what several people, including author 
Lawrence Krauss, claim that normal warp drive works.

Cochrane
Measure for subspace field stress. The unit is employed to measure the power of a warp drive as well as of other devices which 
employ a subspace field, such as the impulse drive and the faster than light computer core. The cochrane value equals the 
velocity ratio v/c for the given warp factor. Warp 1 and v/c=1 is achieved for a subspace distortion of 1 cochrane. Values smaller 
than 1 cochrane correspond to sublight speed. At Warp 10, finally, the cochrane value becomes infinite, and so does the 
apparent velocity. The unit was named in honor of Zefram Cochrane who built the first Terran vessel to achieve warp speed.

Cochrane distortion
A characteristic fluctuation in the phase of a subspace field generated by a starship's warp engines.

Continuum Drag 
Theorical force, from which is said that it stops ships from accelerating while they at warp. Continuum drag is comparable to air 
drag, but it's not air that influents movement, but the space-time continuum. However, there's no need for a force like that to 
explain why sustaining a warp field needs a constant influx of energy. This might be better explained by the fact that warp drive is 
non-newtonian, and is thus not explainable with Newton's laws. 

Corbomite
A non-existing substance, used by captain James Kirk as a bluff to save the Enterprise.

Dampening field
An energy field that inhibits almost all forms of energy, including most forms of communications.

Dark Matter 
Form of matter that exists of particles which don't emit any (electromagnetic) radiation, making it invisible and hard to detect. 
Some physicians think that dark matter can function as an energy source for starship drives. Dark matter exists in the Mar 
Obscura nebula. In Star Trek, dark matter seems to have some exotic properties. It makes objects continually phase in and out of 
our universe. This property can cause depressurization on board of starships, because the hulls phase in and out. 

Delta Rays 
Type of radiation produced by older engines. Delta rays refer to moderate energy electrons which have been kicked off a nucleus 
by the passage of a nearby high energy charged particle. 

Deuterium
A hydrogen isotope, consisting a nucleus with one proton and one neutron, and an electron circling around the nucleus. 
Cryogenic deuterium is used as the primary fuel source for the fusion impulse engine reactors, and it is also used in Federation 
starships' warp drive matter/antimatter reaction. As matter deuterium is used, and anti-hydrogen (an anti-proton and a positron) is 
used as antimatter.

Dimensional Shifter 
Transporting device using space folding, as opposed to the Federation transporter. This transporting method is used by the 
Ansata group and has the side effect of DNA damage. The Sikarian trajector is based on space folding as well. 

Disruptor
Energy discharge weapons, used by Klingons, Romulans, Cardassians and the Breen. Disruptors are available as shipboard and 
hand-held weapons.

Docking Port 
Facility for establishing a physical connection and mutual access between a shuttlepod and a starship or a starship and a space 
station. 

Doppler compensator
The Doppler compensator is part of the transporter system, to compensate the relative movement between the origin and 
destination of the transport. Without the compensator the Doppler effect would distort the transport pattern.

Drag coefficient
Measurement of the frictional force on a body traveling through a fluid medium such as air or water relative to the body's speed in 
that medium.

Drydock 
Facility in which starships are maintained and repaired, usually located in a planet orbit in combination with a starbase.  

	

Dyne
One newton equals 105 dynes

E-band emissions
Electromagnetic signals sometimes emitted by collapsing protostars.

Eichner Radiation 
Radiation emitted by subspace phase inverters. 

EM base frequencies
Engineering term used in measuring a phaser beam's component electromagnetic wavelengths.

Emergency hand actuator
A small hand crank located in an access panel on one side of an automatic door. An actuator can be used to open a door when 
the normal computer-operated system isn't functioning.

Emitter crystal
Component of a subspace transceiver.

Emulator module
Part of the computer systems on Deep Space Nine. The modules allow the computers to access alien computer networks.

Engineering
A starship's department responsible for the operations ans maintenance of the ship's systems, including propulsion (warp and 
impulse drive). Most engineering functions are controlled from an engine room, usually located in the engineering section. The 
bridge also has an engineering monitor and control station.

Engineering section
Also referred to as engineering hull or secondary hull, typically a separate section of a Federation vessel in which the main 
power source and control (main engineering) is located.

EPI capacitator
Device used to open a runabout hatch in case of an emergency, bypassing the normal door actuation servos.

EPS (Acronym for Electroplasma System)
The power distribution network used aboard Federation starships. Plasma is diverted throughout the ship to supply the warp drive 
and other systems such as life support, computers, shields or weapons.

EPS taps
Components of a Federation starship's warp drive system used to divert a small amount of the drive plasma for the generation of 
electrical power for shipboard use. The taps are located on the power transfer conduits.

Event Horizon 
Spherical boundary around a black hole inside which any form of mass or energy is inevitably trapped, unless it can move faster 
than light. A hypothetical event horizon can be assumed and calculated for any mass value. It is possible to survive within the 
event horizon at least for a few seconds, provided that it is a huge black hole with around a million sun masses. A person crossing
the event horizon in a starship would notice nothing but a distorted view of the outside world at first. However, while falling towards 
the center, the starship and its passenger would be virtually stretched and finally torn apart because of the strong gravitational 
force gradient. An external observer outside the event horizon would perceive the starship and its passenger move slower the 
closer they get to the event horizon, corresponding to a time dilation. Eventually, they would virtually seem to stand still exactly on
the edge of the event horizon. 

Exocomp
Small robot designed for multi-purpose tasks in hazardous environments. Exocomps are equipped with microreplicators for 
generating whatever tool is currently needed and an extensive neural system to allow independent decisions.

Created by Dr. Farallon to assist in the Particle Fountain project on Tyrus VIIA, the exocomp is a small computerized 
autonomous repair unit. Each exocomp is equipped with an antigrav unit which allows it to move around under its own power, a 
computer which allows it to analyse and diagnose faults and produce repair strategies independent of outside control, and a 
replicator unit which allows it to produce a wide variety of tools with which to conduct repairs. 

The exocomps were highly successful in their initial service, but quickly developed what appeared to be erratic behaviour. When 
an exocomp refused to enter a work area shortly before it exploded, Lieutenant Commander Data theorized that the devices had 
developed sentience and were acting in their own interests. The first tests designed to prove this hypothesis failed, but 
subsequently Data discovered that this had been because the exocomps had outwitted the tests. 

	
	An Exocomp unit without any tool

Before he could communicate this information to the Enterprise-D crew, an accident at the particle fountain put Captain Picard 
and Lieutenant LaForge in danger from high radiation levels. Commander Riker attempted to sacrifice the exocomps to save the 
officers, but was prevented from doing so by Data. Data argued that since the exocomps were in fact sentient, they had the right 
to decide for themselves whether to sacrifice their lives. Riker agreed, and three exocomps were allowed to board the particle 
fountain under their own control. They were able to successfully rescue both officers, although one of the exocomps was 
tragically lost in the operation. After this striking demonstration of their sentience, Dr. Farallon agreed to allow the exocomps full 
autonomy in all future work on the project. 

Federation Starship Registry Codes 

Flux capacitance
A measurable physical property of energy flow. 

Flux spectrometer
A sensor used aboard Federation starships.

Forced plasma beam
A destructive source of energy used in Borg and Ferengi handheld weapons.

Forced Quantum Singularity Drive 
(FQSD) Energy source, used in Romulan starships as warp core. Energy is drained from a quantum singularity, in fact an artificial 
black hole. 

Fractal encryption
Very sophisticated, virtually unbreakable computer encryption technique.

Gravimetric flux density 
Measurement of spatial distortion characteristics. Very high gravimetric flux density readings may indicate a quantum singularity.

Graviton
Elementary particle that transmits gravitational force. A graviton inverter circuit is a key component of an antigrav. A graviton field 
generator is another element of artificial-gravity generators and is used in force field applications as well. Graviton field energy 
generated by a tractor beam can be used to strengthen the structural integrity of a vessel being towed.

Gravity generator
Device based on the emission of graviton particles that provides artificial gravity in normally zero-g environments. Artificial gravity 
is an essential life support system on a starship, since it allows natural walking and working and enables an "upwards" and 
"downwards" orientation. Usually a network of gravity generators is employed, in order to provide a homogeneous gravity field. In 
case of an EPS failure, the gravity generators on Federation starships remain in service for up to 240min.

GSC
Unit of gross structural compression measure.

Heisenberg compensator
Part of the transporter system that is connected to the molecular imaging scanners and balances out the Heisenberg effect. This 
effect is a quantum uncertainty that would otherwise not allow to exactly recreate the state of a complex electronic device or an 
organism, in particular a neural system.

	

holodeck imaging processor
The technology in a holodeck system which produces the visual imagery.

Impulse speed
Sublight speed which is achieved with the impulse drive, usually measured in fractions of c.

Interphase generator
A cloaking device that manipulates the molecular structure of matter in a way that it is transferred to a parallel space. Matter 
cloaked with an interphase generator is not only invisible to conventional natural and artificial sensors, it is also able to penetrate 
normal matter.

	

Ion Drive 
Impulse drive, based on magnetic acceleration exhausting of ions in a plasma. Invented in the nineties of the 20th century. Ion 
propulsion requires far less energy than propulsion by other engines, but is relatively weak. Jem'Hadar attack ships utilize ion 
drives too. 

Ion Trail 
Trail of ions, left by any ship on warp or impulse. Many ships are detected because of their ion trail. 

Isoton
Unit for the measurement of the explosive force of a weapon, like photon, hellfire, and quantum torpedoes. This unit might be 
useful, yet it is not very precise. Since "iso-" means "equal", it could represent an equivalent mass of explosives, given in tons. It 
is very improbable that the (metric?) tons refer to TNT, because present day fission bombs are already in the range of hundreds of 
kilotons of TNT. The unit probably does not apply to antimatter, either, since a photon torpedo contains only a few kilograms of it . 
Explosive yield 200 isotons, where a single photon torpedo casing can be armed to 80 isotons.

Jefferies tube
Service corridor in a Federation starship. A network of Jefferies tubes runs through each starship and provides access to the 
various conduits (EPS) and waveguides (ODN).

	
	The Jefferies Tube system

Kellicam
Unit of distance measure in use by the Klingon Empire. One kellicam is approximately equal to two kilometers.

Ketric
Hirogen unit of length measurement. A ketric is equal to several kilometers.

Kolem
Romulan unit of measure for power flow.

Laser (Acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)
In a laser, the oscillator (a gaseous, fluid or solid matter) is embedded in a resonator, usually consisting of two mirrors. 
Continuous energy supply leads to an occupation inversion of energy levels within the oscillator, meaning that more electrons 
are in an excited (higher energy) state than in the normal state. A large amount of narrow-band light is produced, corresponding to 
electrons falling back to their normal states. A small part of the generated photons generates new excited electrons, while the 
major part is emitted through one of the mirrors which is semi-transparent. Laser weapons have been replaced by the more 
powerful phasers in the 23rd century, however, lasers are still in use as cutting and welding tools.

Laser-Induced Fusion 
Engineering term for controlled nuclear fusion in which the required ignition temperatures are created by powerful lasers. Laser 
induced fusion is used in the impulse drive engines of Federation starships, as well as in the power supply reactors on station 
Deep Space 9.

M-5 Multitronics Computer System 
Experimental computer designed in 2268 by Dr. Richard Daystrom. The M-5 multitronic unit was the most ambitious computer 
complex ever created in its time, and was designed with the purpose of correlating and controlling every aspect of a starships' 
operation. The M-5 multitronic unit was built using a technique that allowed human neural engrams to be impressed upon the 
computer's circuits, theoretically giving the machine the ability to think and reason like a human. Daystrom hoped that the M-5 
would prove as great an advance as his earlier breakthrough in duotronics. The M-5 was tested aboard the Enterprise in 2268 in an
exercise that allowed the M-5 to conduct routine contact and survey operations, as well as an elaborate war game that involved 
four other Federation starships. Although initial tests were promising, the M-5 demonstrated serious problems when it fired full 
phasers at the Excalibur and the Lexington, killing hundreds of people. Fortunately, the M-5 possessed Daystrom's sense of 
morality, and it later deactivated itself to atone for the sin of murder.  

	

Magnetascopic interference
Electromagnetic energy produced by unstable protostars. Magnetascopic interference affects sensor and communication 
efficiency.

Magnetic resonance traces
Subtle electromagnetic patterns, which can be an indication of Borg activity.

Magnetic seals
Component of the matter/antimatter containment system aboard Federation starships. The seals help prevent the highly volatile 
antimatter from coming in contact with normal matter.

Magneton scan
Highly accurate sensor protocol.

Marker beacon
Brilliant strobe lights located on the hulls of Federation starships, intended to aid other ships in visually locating that vessel.

Master systems display
A display/control console located in Main Engineering aboard starships.

Matrix diodes
The array of omnidirectional holographic diodes embedded in the walls of a holodeck.

Melakol
Romulan unit of measure for pressure.

Message buoy
Small spaceborne instrument package, usually containing a data storage system and an automatic transponder.

Metagenic weapon
Sophisticated biological weapon using genetically engineerde viruses, designed to destroy any form of DNA. These viruses can 
mutate rapidly and are believed to destroy entire ecosystems within days. After a certain ammount of time the metagenic agent 
itself dies, having destroyed all biological life on a planetary scale, while leaving all technological aspects of a culture intact.

Because of the extreme danger of these eapons, treaties were established to ban their use, and all of the major powers of the 
period, including the Federation, the Ferengi, and the Romulans, agreed to the ban.

Metryon cascade
Mass destruction weapon used by the Haakonians that killed many of the inhabitants of the Talaxian moon Rhinax, and left the 
survivors suffering from a deadly blood disease, metrymia.

Micronization Warp Drive 
Experimental new type of warp drive, used aboard the Defiant. This warp drive incorporates injection of delta isotopes into the warp
plasma. This is because warp speeds above warp 9.5 produce time dilation (time aboard slows down). Delta isotopes have effect 
on dimensional temporal stability, 'pushing' the Defiant forward in time and thus neutralizing the time dilation effect. 

Micro-wormhole
A wormhole whose singularity has mostly dissipated, leaving an extermely narrow passageway through subspace.

Microcircuit fibers
An element of Borg technology, designed to be implanted into humanoid tissue during the assimilation process. Infiltration of the 
fibers into healthy tissue around Borg implants cause changes in the cellular DNA around the implants and make surgical removal 
impossible while the implants are active.

Microprobe
Small free-flying unpiloted instrument package used for remote sensing studies. Microprobes measure only a few centimeters in 
diameter.

Microtomographic analysis
Imaging technique using a series of microscopic narrow-beam X-rays to derive  information on a molecular scale.

Millicochrane
Unit of measure of subspace distortion, one one-thousandth of the force necessary to establish a field of warp factor one. Named 
for Zefram Cochrane, inventor of the space warp.

Molybdenum-cobalt alloys
Sophisticated metallic compound, used in the construction of the androids Data and Lore.

Multi Vector Assault  
The Multi Vector Assault mode is an experimental tactical procedure available only on the prototype vessel, Prometheus. The 
MVA mode is controled from the primary vessel where it can either control the other two pieces of the ship directly or use an 
automated default program. If the subspace connection used to control the other section are jammed, the pieces will simply 
disengage from the mode and attempt to reconnect with the ship. There are many flaws with the mode though, including the 
limited control of each section. 

Muon
Short-lived subatomic particle classified as a lepton.

Mutual annihilation
The process by which a particle and its counterpart come into contact and destroy each other, releasing energy.

Myographic scanner
Sensing device, used on Federation escape pods to monitor the bio-electric signatures of the pod's passengers, allowing them to 
be traced should ther become separated from the pod after landing.

Nadion
Subatomic particle associated with high-speed interactions within atomic nuclei. Nadion emissions accompany the discharge of a 
phaser beam.

Nanites
Nanotechnical devices developed by the Federation to work in microscopic environments, for instance on a cellular level in a 
human body. In 2366, nanites were discovered to have developed a consciousness.

	
	A standard shape Nanite

Nanoprobes
Microscopic devices that are programmed to convert (assimilate) a living organism to a Borg drone. Once injected to the blood 
stream, the nanoprobes take control of the organism and form the first Borg implants.

	
	A typical Borg Nanoprobe

Nanotechnology
Branch of engineering involving the design of microscopic machines on scales as small as nanometers (billionths of a meter). 
Such tools include tiny robots known as nanites.

Neosorium composite
Material used in the construction of Federation replicators.

Neural transponder
Device used to link Borg drones through processors implanted in their nervous systems. Neural transponders allow members of 
the Borg Collective to share neural energy.

Neurode
In bio-neural circuitry technology, the connection between a bio-neural gel pack and external components.

Neuroprocessor
Central memory component contained in every Borg. The neuroprocessor contains a record of all the instructions received from 
the Collective.

Neutrino
Massless subatomic particle that has no electrical charge. Neutrinos were first detected by Earth scientists in 1956.
A major source of neutrinos are nuclear reactions deep within stars, neutrinos are also found in a starship's warp signature.
Standard Starfleet tricorders are not equipped to detect neutrinos.

Neutron fatigue
A breakdown of nuclear cohesion in a structure.

Neutronium 
Very cohesive material made of densely-packed neutrons, held together by gravity. The material neutron stars are made of. The 
Doomsday Machine's hull was made of it. 

Nitrium
A metal alloy, used in the construction of Federation starships.

Nullifier Cores 
Energy sources onboard of cloak capable ships. Nullifier cores dissipate the energy they use, so the energy emissions can't be 
detected from outside the ship. 

Omega molecule
A complex artificial molecule that can be employed for power generation. Not sufficiently contained, a single omega molecule can 
disrupt subspace within a range of several lightyears, so that warp travel becomes impossible.
The omega molecule was detected independently by the Federation, the Borg and an alien civilization in the Gamma Quadrant, 
however, each time the attempt to employ it as a power source failed. The Federation issued the Omega Directive that obliges 
every Starfleet captain to destroy any detected omega molecule under all circumstances.

Onkian
Unit of temperature measure used by the Romulan Star Empire. A reading of 12 onkians corresponds to a temperature somewhat 
above the freezing point of water.

Opti-cable
Fiber-optic data-transmission cable used aboard starship, part of their optical data network.

Peak Transitional Threshold 
Initial power necessary to achieve an integer warp factor. The peak transitional threshold is much higher than the power to 
maintain the respective velocity. The introduction of the peak transistional threshold obviously serves to justify the the strange 
warp scale, where the warp factor is not simply WF=v/c or WF=log(v/c), but WF=(v/c)^1/3. For this purpose, the power to maintain
a subspace field is designed to exhibit significant peaks which are sequentially numbered and designated as warp factor. A simple
explanation (which is also corroborated on Jason Hinson's website is that this behavior is attributed to the subsequent activation of
additional warp field layers for higher velocities, which is accomplished by a suited warp field activation sequence. Eugene's limit 
can be included into this theory in a way that more than 9 layers are not efficient to facilitate high-warp propulsion, so the 
complete remaining speed range is compressed within the range between Warp 9 and Warp 10, the latter equals infinite speed. In 
fact, the official diagram of power expenditure shows that the power saving after the peak transitional threshold decreases from 100
at Warp 1 to 2.75 at Warp 9, suggesting that this factor would be still smaller at another (imaginary) threshold. It is possible that 
Eugene's limit has been found as late as in the 24th century, so previous warp tables assumed 10 or more layers to be useful. 

Phase shift
Generic term for a movement to a state outside the normal space-time continuum. Usually phase shift seems to be an essentially 
temporal displacement, while the interphase generator might be based on a spatial shift or parallel space.

Phased matter
An intermediate state between matter and energy. The term is used for the matter stream generated in the transporter.

Phaser power coupling
Weapons power transfer conduit, part of the electroplasma system.

Photoplasma
Energy signature. A tricorder can be programmed to emit a photoplasmic trail to mark a path for later backtracking.

Plasma
Ionized gas, often regarded as the forth state of matter besides the solid, fluid and gaseous state. Consisting of charged particles, 
plasma is electrically conductive. Due to this property and the fact that the excited electrons in a plasma are on higher energy 
level than bound electrons in other forms of matter, plasma is suited to transport energy. In particular, plasma is employed to 
provide the necessary energy for the warp drive and other systems of a starship. The EPS serves to distribute plasma throughout 
the ship. The continuously occuring relaxation of excited electrons from a higher to a lower energy level becomes obvious in a 
characteristic glow.

Plasma coolant
Highly corrosive fluid used in the warp-drive systems of Federation starships.

Plasma grid
Component of the warp drive partially responsible for power conversion levels.

Plasma residue
By-product of the warp propulsion process. When plasma residue is vented from a starship's warp nacelles, a cloud of blue 
glowing gas is created around the ship.

Protomatter 
An unstable form of matter used by David Marcus as a short cut in the construction of the Genesis Device. Because of the 
instability of protomatter, the Genesis Planet began to age geologically at an accelerated rate. 

Polaric ion energy
Highly energetic but unstable power source. Although early research showed polaric energy as a promising means of providing 
power on a planetary scale, its use ran serious risks of uncontrolled chain reactions through subspace. Such an incident nearly 
destroyed a Romulan research colony on planet Chaltok IV, resulting in the Polaric Test Ban Treaty of 2268. In 2371, the U.S.S. 
Voyager scanned a M-Class planet in the Delta Quadrant whose inhabitants had a planet-wide polaric ion energy system.

Polaron
Subatomic particle. Federation vessels employ polaron scanners in their sensor complement.

Polycomposite
Synthetic material used in the construction of Federation starship hulls.

Polyferranide
Metallic compound used to seal warp coils on Federation starships.

Positron
Subatomic particles virtually identical to normal electrons, but with opposite electromagnetic properties.

Positronic brain
An extremely advanced computing device that uses the decay of positrons to form sophisticated neural network systems. Long 
thought to be impossible, the positronic brain was first postulated in the 20th century by Isaac Asimov and finally made practical 
in the 24th century by Noonien Soong.

	

Protomatter
A dangerously unstable form of matter.

Quad
Unit for the measurement of the amount of computer data, usually expressed in the multiples of 1000 (kiloquad), 1 million 
(megaquad) or 1 billion (gigaquad).

Quantum Filament 
Form of energy. Encountered as a quantumfilament as an enlongated subatomic object, hundreds of meters long, but possessing 
almost no mass. Caused damage to the Enterprise. Looks like a cosmic string, but it is something completely different. 

Quantum fissure
Fixed point in the space-time continuum, essentially a keyhole into other quantum realities.

Quantum fluctuations
Phenomenon postulated by physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking. Quantum fluctuations were thought to be links between multiple 
universes. Hawking referred to them as wormholes.

Quantum reality
One of an infinite number of possible universes or realities that exist side by side along the space-time continuum. Every 
occurence and outcome that could exist does exist in a different quantum reality.

Quantum resonance oscillator
Component of a Federation transporter module.

Quantum signature
A unique characteristic that marks all matter in the universe for a given quantum reality. All matter in each universe resonates at a 
specific frequency at the quantum level. That signature is constant and cannot be changed by any known process.

Quantum singularity
Also referred to as black hole. Romulan Warbirds employ a quantum singularity as energy source. Basically, a black hole is 
supposed to accumulate energy, never ever emitting anything of it. Stephen Hawking, however, postulated that black holes do 
actually emit radiation, or shrink in terms of mass. This strange behavior is attributed to the quantum uncertainty. According to 
quantum mechanics, it is in no way prohibited that a particle/antiparticle pair is generated from nothing, as long as their lifetime is 
so short that it is not noticed. If this happens at the event horizon, one particle might fall into the black hole, whereas the other 
could escape. In this case it would seem as if the black hole does emit radiation, and the Romulans obviously take advantage of 
this effect.

Quantum slipstream drive
Quantum Slipstream Drive Propulsion technology exceeding the capabilities of conventional warp drive. The quantum slipstream 
drive was introduced as the propulsion system of the fake Federation ship Dauntless. The technology is akin to Borg transwarp. In
this case a kind of space fold would be created to bridge large distances similar to a wormhole. A satisfactory theory is missing, 
and the shown effects are contradictory. 

Rapid nadion pulse
A burst of subatomic nadion particles that faciliate a release of energy from the emitter crystal in a phaser.

Reactive armor
Type of armor that actively defelcts energy and projectiles, sometimes by exploding outward in such a way as to deflect the 
incoming projectile.

Relativistic speed
Speed at which relativistic effects such as mass increase and time dilatation become evident. While the warp drive is inherently 
free of such effects, they have to be considered if the ship is powered by the impulse drive only. According to Einstein's Special 
Relativity Theory, a movement at a speed v leads to a mass increase by the factor (sqrt(1-v^2/c^2))^-1. For small v values, this 
increase is negligible, however, for 0.25c it yields 6.7% and increases strongly for higher speeds. Finally, at v=c mass would 
become infinite if c could be achieved without warp drive. Actually, this effect prevents a starship from being accelerated to high 
speeds with conventional propulsion, because such a ship would virtually consist of nothing but fuel. This problem is solved with a 
subspace field that lowers the effective mass.

Repulsor Beam 
A modified tractor beam. Also called a pressor beam. 

Rotating phaser frequency
Method of changing the phaser frequency employed by the Federation, so as to prevent adaptation of Borg shielding.

Rotating shield frequency
Method of changing the deflector shield frequency at random to avoid penetration by enemy weapons.

Safety Protocol 
Subroutine that prevents a holographic projection system from creating harmful objects, substances or situations which may 
cause a user's injury or even death.

Saucer separation
Disconnection of engineering hull and main hull (saucer) of a starship. Saucer separation is employed in emergency situations, 
e.g. in order not to endanger civilians in a battle or in case a warp core breach breach is inevitable. In most cases reconnection is 
not possible, only some classes of starships are able to perform a saucer separation and to reconnect the two sections.

Self-sealing stem bolt
Self-sealing stem bolts can be used in the production of reverse-ratcheting routing planers.

Shield Frequency 
Value that represents the energy of a deflector shield. Expressed in Hertz (Hz). An object can penetrate the shield when it has 
the same frequency as the shielding. 

Shield harmonics
The interaction of different frequencies of force-fiels energy present in a defelctor shield. Shield harmonics vary with the modulation, 
geometry, frequency and nutation of the shields. This set of data can be used like a fingerprint to identify ships by type, class and 
origin.

Shield Nutation 
Technique that is used to make it more difficult to penetrate shielding. The mechanism after shield nutation is a randomly 
changing shield frequency. 

Shield inverters
A subsytem of Federation starship defensive shield arrays.

Shield nutation
Engineering term measuring variations in shield-frequency phase rotation.

SIF (Acronym for Structural Integrity Field)
A system of forcefields built up around and within a starship in order to counterbalance acceleration forces and gravitational forces. 
The SIF actually keeps the spaceframe in one piece.

Site-to-site transport
Also known as direct transport, the process whereby a transport subject is first beamed to the transporter room from a remote 
location. However, instead of being materialized in the chamber, the subject is then transported directly to another location where 
it is materialized. Site-to-site transport is relatively costly in terms of energy usage, so it is primarily used for emergency situations.

Slingshot effect
Time travel that occurs if a starship approaches a star at high warp and then turns round again.

Soliton wave
A method of warp travel without shipboard warp drive. The soliton wave is generated by a stationary generator on a planet and 
directed towards the ship in order to accelerate it to warp speed. A second wave generator at the destination is required to 
dissolve the wave generating a counterwave with matching frequency, phase and amplitude. The concept of the soliton wave 
seems to be quite similar to conventional warp propulsion, considering that a wave is nothing but a traveling field.

Spaceframe
Skeletal structure of a starship. The spaceframe of a large vessel is usually designed to provide sufficient mechanical stability 
while the ship is at rest in orbit or open space. Stability during acceleration by propulsion systems or gravity can only be 
accomplished through the SIF. Mechanical stability is a decisive obstacle when designing large structures such as a 
Galaxy-class starship. Simply inflating all dimensions of a smaller starship by a constant factor is not possible, considering the 
fact that the volume will increase by the third power and the cross-section only by the second power. Hence, a strength deficit 
occurs if an object is scaled up, and a strength surplus if it is scaled down. 

Static warp shell
A symmetrical subspace bubble, often toroidal or spherical in three-dimensional profile. A static warp shell cannot be used for 
warp-propulsion applications because warp drive requires an asymmetrical warp field.

	

Structural breach
Break or hole in the hull of a starship.

Sublight
Scientific term describing space-normal speeds, slower dan c, the speed of light. Sublight speeds do not require warp drive, and 
are generally achieved using impulse power. As a result, sublight travel is subject to relativistic effects such as time dilation and 
Fitzgerald-Lorentz contraction.  Sometimes referred to as space-normal travel.

Submicron matrix transfer technology
Technique for replicating existing neural net pathways in a positronic brain into another positronic brain. This technology was 
introduced at a cybernetics conference in 2366.

Subspace
Subspace A domain outside the normal three-dimensional space, rather than another dimension. Effects of mass/energy transition
to subspace allow apparent FTL velocities and are used by the warp drive, computer system and subspace radio. According to the
ingenious subspace field theory by the physicist Jason Hinson, subspace is "a continuum that exists in conjunction with our own 
space-time continuum. Every point in our universe has a corresponding point in subspace. Also, at every point in our universe, 
subspace has a particular frame of reference." 

Subspace field
Special type of forcefield that extends into subspace and is able to change its structure or geometry. A subspace field facilitates 
propulsion and signal transfer. The subspace field strength is measured in cochrane untis. Above a subspace field stress of 1 
cochrane, the subspace field becomes a so-called warp field, allowing FTL travel of starships and signals.

Subspace inversion
Spectacular phenomenon in which subspace near a wormhole becomes fragmented. The Bajoran wormhole undergoes a 
subspace inversion every 50 years.

Subspace radio
Form of ship-to-ship or interplanetary communication that takes advantage of subspace physics and allows faster-than-light (FTL) 
signal transmission. The maximum possible velocity of signal propagation is Warp 9.9997, which is significantly faster than any 
starship. A network of subspace relays within the Federation territory ensures that no inadmissable signal decay occurs in case 
of long distance communication.

Subspace transporter
Subspace Transporter Transporter type which transfers patterns through the subspace domain. Although their operation range 
may cover many lightyears and they are able to penetrate shields, subspace transporters are not reliable and therefore not 
employed by the Federation or other major species.  

Subspace weapon
Weapon whose destructive force is based on the disruption of subspace. Subspace weapons are outlawed by the Federation 
because of their irreparable damage to subspace.

Tachyon
Tachyons Any particles that travel faster than light. Predicted in the 20th century by professor Arnold Sommerfeld, tachyons are 
significant part of the Star Trek universe. General relativity says that anything with positive mass cannot travel at lightspeed or 
above, because the mass of an object increases when it approaches lightspeed. However, if an object has a negative or 
imaginary* mass, the mass becomes more negative. Thus, as a tachyon loses energy, it gains speed, and exceeds lightspeed. 
When it would break the lightspeed barrier, it would give off a radiation known as Cerenkov radiation. This would take energy away 
from a tachyon and cause it to go faster and faster, continually giving off more and more energy. The lowest velocity of a tachyon 
is slightly above lightspeed, but it can never go at lightspeed, like normal objects can not travel at lightspeed. This is 
mathematically acceptable, and is also supported by relativity and quantum mechanics. Tachyons are difficult to measure 
because they would violate time-order. In other words, two different people in two different places would see one tachyon do two 
different things, if they could see the tachyon at all. For example, if one person sees a tachyon coming out of a gun, the other 
person sees the tachyon going into the gun. However, present mathematics and physics allow tachyons to exist under certain 
circumstances. Tachyons are used at the Borg transwarp conduit. 

Tanium 
Material used in starship hulls. Different forms of tanium are encountered around the galaxy. The Federation uses tritanium in their
starship hulls, and a Delta Quadrant race called the Hirogen uses monotanium.  

Temporal flux
Phenomenon in which matter passes from one space-time continuum to another. Temporal flux can interfere with the operation of 
transporters if the object or person to be transported is in a state of temporal flux.

Temporal incursion
Method of altering history by erasing a target object from space-time in a way that it has never existed. Temporal incursion is 
equivalent to traveling back in time and removing or destroying the respective object.

Temporal Transceiver 
Communication device which sends transmissions back or forward through time. 

Terraforming
Generic term for technologies employed to convert a desert planet into an inhabitable Class-M world.

Tetryon
Subatomic particle that can only exist in subspace and is unstable in normal space.

Theta-band emissions
Subspace carrier waves often associated with background subspace radiation.

Tomographic imaging scanner
Sensor scan which involves a series of narrow-beam X-rays to scan object in a multiphasic mode.

Transtator
Basic device of Federation technologies, including transporters, phasers and communicators.

Transwarp
In subspace physics, a velocity equalling warp 10, unattainable under normal warp theory. An object travelling at transwarp 
velocity would theoretically be moving infinitely fast, and would therefore be occupying all points in the universe simultaneously. 
The U.S.S. Excelsior was launched in 2284 as a testbed for transwarp technology, although the experiment proved a failure. Lt. 
Tom Paris from the U.S.S. Voyager became the fisrt human to pilot a ship that could attain transwarp speeds in 2372. 
Unfortunately, transwarp velocity was shown to have extremely dangerous effects on living beings, but recently Federation 
scientists have solved this problems with use of data from Voyager's transwarp experiment and data gathered about Borg 
transwarp propulsion sytems. The Borg use sophisticated transwarp conduits, allowing their ships to travel at least 20 times 
faster than normal warp-powered vessels. The Borg used their transwarp conduits to permit their ships to reach Federation space 
with little or no advance warning.

Transwarp Conduit 
Transwarp drive used by the Borg. They're like custom-made wormholes that, once created, stay in place and can be used 
repeatedly. The conduits are opened by broadcasting a tachyon signature which sucks the ship in. The first step is bringing the 
ship on any speed higher than warp 2, using 'classic' warp drive. Then a subspace field forms. The second step is to emit 
tachyons, which will open the 'subspace wormhole'. They're beyond the ability of the Federation to create, but the Enterprise was 
able to use them once it recorded the tachyon signature the Borg were using. Transfer through the conduits is said to be 20 times 
faster than the fastest warp available to Federation science, covering lightyears in a matter of seconds rather than hours - just like 
a wormhole. However, Riker once stated that Borg transwarp had covered 65 light years within a time which is measures as 
approx. 9 seconds (at home, with a stopwatch). This coresponds to about 227,911,132.04 times the speed of light, far more than 
20 times faster than Federation warp speeds.  

Tripolymer composites
High-strenght synthetic plastic compounds. Tripolymer composites are often used in the construction of androids.

Tritanium 
Material, form of tanium. Used in Federation starship hulls. Tritanium is 21.4 times as hard as diamond. 

Uncertainty principle
Concept in quantum mechanics postulated by Earth scientist Dr. Werner Heisenberg in 1927. The principle states that increasing 
the accuracy of the measurement in one observable quantity also increases the uncertainty of knowledge of other quantities in the 
equation.

Universal translator
Computer program employed for communication among persons who speak different languages. The universal translator performs 
a pattern analysis of an unknown language based on a variety of criteria in order to generate a translation matrix.

Verteriumcortenide 
Material of which the inner and outer surface of both the warp coils and impulse driver coils (impulse drive) are made. 
Veteriumcortenide produces subspace fields when interacting with plasma. Verteriumcortenide is a composite which consists of 
verteriumpolysilicate and monocrystalline cortenum. 

Verteron
Subatomic particle associated with subspace phenomena. Artificially created verterons allow a vessel on impulse power to pass 
through the Bajoran wormhole unharmed.

Warp factor
Unitless number that describes the speed of a ship or signal traveling faster than light.

	

Warp field
Subspace field with a subspace distortion of at least 1 cochrane. A starship enveloped by a warp field is able to travel faster than 
light, without relativistic    limits being violated. The asymmetrical warp field used by Federation starships is propulsive itself 
without an additional exhaustion necessary. This is accomplished by sequentially activating the warp coils. A symmetrical, 
non-propulsive warp field is used for 24th century starship computer cores, where it allows FTL travel of electrons or photons within 
the field limits.

Warp Signature 
Specific property of the warp field of a starship. Races are often identified because of their warp signature. Hirogen ships are 
identified because of their 'dicyclistic warpfield'. Ferengi ships are identified of their single-lobed warp field. Federation starships 
have double-lobed a warp field.The Federation starship Prometheus was recognized as a Federation starship because of his warp 
signature. 

Warp sustainer engine
Propulsion system of a photon torpedo, allowing warp flight for a short period after the launch.

Zero-point energy
Quantum fluctuation effect that is employed to enhance the explosion of Federation quantum torpedoes, and is the underlying 
principle of the Romulan quantum singularity power source. Zero-point energy implies a continuous spontaneous generation and 
mutual annihilation of elementary particles (or energy). This quantum effect is a consequence of Heisenberg's uncertainty 
principle. Such fluctuations even occur in a perfect vacuum that is shielded against any form of radiation. Since the overall energy 
of the system remains zero, energy conservation is not violated.