THE ROLE OF DILITHIUM

The key element in the efficient use of M/A reactions is the Dilithium crystal. This is the only material known to Federation science to be non-reactive with anti-matter when subjected to a high-frequency electro-magnetic (EM) field in the megawatt range, rendering it "porous" to anti-deuterium (the anti-matter fuel of Federation starships). Dilithium permits the anti-matter to pass directly through its crystalline structure without actually touching it, owing to the field dynamo effect created in the added ion atoms. It was discovered that Dilithium's crystalline lattice structure actually exists in four dimensions, not just the usual three in ordinary matter. This forth-dimensional structure, more accurately existing in sub-space, is attributed to its ability to be non-reactive with anti-matter.

Dilithium unique relationship with anti-matter was accidentally discovered in the later half of the 21st century, many years after Dr. Zefram Cochrane's breakthrough Faster Than Light Flight in 2063. It was at his new laboratory on Alpha Centuari, during design improvements on his super-impeller drive, that his assistant Dr. Lily Sloane discovered that anti-deuterium could pass through a piece of Dilithium that was being used as plasma conduit lens. When a magnetic constrictor segment became unaligned, the anti-matter stream she was working on was deflected and missed mixing with the incoming matter stream by less then one micron. Dr. Sloane observed the first matter/anti-matter annihilation to occur inside a Dilithium Crystal and discovered the tuned plasma stream that resulted to be a quantum leap over the raw annihilation produced in the Cochrane prototype.

The longer form of the crystal name is the forced-matrix formula 2<5>6dilithium 2<:>1 diallosilicate 1:9:1 heptoferranide. This highly complex atomic structure is based on simpler forms discovered in naturally occurring geological layers of certain the planetary systems. It was for many years deemed irreproducible by known or predicted vapor-deposition methods, until breakthroughs in nuclear epitaxy and antieutectics allowed the formation of pure, synthesized Dilithium for starship and conventional powerplant use, through theta-matrix composting techniques utilizing gamma radiation bombardment.

The crystals themselves come in a variety of forms, shapes and sizes. On earlier starships, crystals were cut and shaped into a modified 'arrowhead' shape with two attach points at either end. They were flat and tapered only at one end for proper alignment in their cradles. In the earlier starship designs, different sets of crystals were used for the propulsion systems and for power generation. One set of crystals could be found in the main engineering section in the Dilithium Crystal Articulation Frame while another set could be found in the auxiliary control room main power bus. The second set of crystals were used to convert the main power drive plasma into electric energy that was then fed into the ships power grid.

Other races also use Dilithium in their warp system equivalents, notably the Klingon Empire. Dilithium plays the same role in the Klingon's Graph engines as it does in the Federations Warp engines, although the design is less sophisticated. It should also be noted that Dilithium from the Klingon Empire has been found to be of s lower quality and refinement forcing Klingon designers to use larger and less stable crystals in their propulsion systems. Smaller crystals can usually be found in applications requiring smaller needs such as shuttle engines and micro-propulsion systems on probes or drones. Older phaser designs also used the smallest of crystals in their emitter elements to focus the phaser energy, but new models has developed more accurate means.

As the compressed streams of deuterium and anti-deuterium enter the Dilithium crystal, they are focused to a point where they come in contact. It is here that the antimatter plasma encounters a plasma stream created from pellets of Deuterium. The matter and antimatter dissolve into turbulent plasma at a temperature of 5000° C. These matter/ antimatter plasma streams annihilate themselves to result in pure energy. At this point the furious creation of warp drive plasma is started. After the annihilation is completed the raw energy (electro-magnetic, delta, and neutron) is tuned to the qualities required by the Warp Drive Nacelles by an array of Dilithium Crystals. Once tuned, it is fed out into the Energy Conduits (smaller and simpler versions of the Intermix Chamber, meant solely to carry energy from point to point) for transport to the Nacelles. Due to the unique nature of Dilithium's lattice structure, the drive plasma is focused down to a narrow beam and projected out of the crystal. The direction and focal point of the plasma beam is determined by the shape and configuration of the crystal itself along with the minute alignment changes in the crystals containment cradle.

The drive plasma is contained in a magnetic confinement beam and channeled into the main Power conduit for transmission to the warp drive nacelles where the plasma is converted by the warp coils into wrap fields. One common problem with Dilithium Crystals is the tendency to suffer from decrystallization. During a period of time, the lattice structure can breakdown and this breakdown can be accelerated if the crystals are exposed to certain radiation or used excessively. Once the decrystallization process begins, there was known way to recrystallize the decay. It was not until 2286 that a method of using gamma radiation (high-energy photons) injected into the decaying crystals could cause recrystallization. It was soon found that theta-matrix compositing techniques could be preformed on Dilithium Crystals on a regular basis to maintain their structure and thereby extend their useful life.

Another role for Dilithium onboard starships is Dilithium Crystals possess the quality to "translate." A crystal - properly attuned - is capable of transforming one form of energy into another. For example, the translator crystal within a communicator is attuned to transform (or translate) electrical energy (from the circuitry) into Electro-magnetic energy - and is also capable of reversing the process. In the case of the Main Energizer, an array of Dilithium crystals is exposed to the raw energy bled off from the Intermix Tube. The crystals translate this energy into electrical power, and feed this electricity into the ship's internal power grid. Older starship designs would accomplish this via a complicated auxiliary control conduit power grid. New improvements in the EPS and power systems allows the raw drive plasma to be drawn off the main power conduits, in essence tapping (hence the name EPS taps) the drive plasma as it leaves the intermix chamber enroute to the warp nacelles.

Bibliography

Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual – by R. Sternback and M. Okuda
Starfleet Dynamics – by D. Schmidt
The Star Trek Encyclopedia – by M. Okuda and D. Okuda
Star Trek Chronology – by M. Okuda and D. Okuda
Star Trek Concordance – by B. Trimble

Author – Lt. Wayne N Snyder
Date: July 11, 1998
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