The Matter and Antimatter systems in Federation Starships are the latest step in this evolution. Antimatter is a key component to the M/A Reaction, and is to date the most dangerous fuel in human history. Although Antimatter poses a very dangerous threat, it has also allowed humanity to step beyond the bounds of the Terran Solar system, and go places which where thought impossible.

The antimatter aboard a Federation Starship is kept contained by magnetic conduits and compartmentalized in tanks while aboard the fueling facility. Early starships were also constructed with these compartmentalized tanks in place, though this method proved less desirable from a safety standpoint in a ship subjected to high stresses. During normal refueling, antimatter is passed through the loading port, a .75 meter-wide circular probe-and-drogue device equipped with twelve physical hard-dock latches and magnetic irises. Surrounding the antimatter loading port are thirty storage pods, each measuring 4 X 8 meters and constructed of polyduranium, with an inner magnetic field layer of ferric quonium. Each pod contains a maximum volume of 100 m³ of antimatter, giving a 30-pod total starship supply of 3000 m³, enough for a normal mission period of three years. Shielded conduits connect the tanks to a series of distribution manifolds, flow controllers, and Electro-Plasma System (EPS) power feed inputs. In rapid refueling conditions, reserved for emergency situations, the entire Antimatter Storage Pod Assembly (ASPA) can be drawn down on jackscrews and replaced in less than one hour.

The Antimatter Containment Bottles are mounted with the inner end flush against the anti-matter manifold, their bottleneck's opening into the manifold itself. The Antimatter Containment Bottles are attached to the manifold via explosive bolts, as are the hull panels protecting them - called Blow-Away panels. An equipment bay within each Bottle holds the Bottle's onboard system, including three separate Dilithium power packs, a force-field generator, and the built-in computer. The power packs feed the force-field generator directly, and are kept constantly recharged via a power cable jacked in from the ship's power grid. The generator maintains a protective insulating force field along the inner surface of the Bottle, preventing contact with the antimatter contents. The onboard computer keeps a running check and scan of all systems. This data is fed to the Main Engineering Computer via a telemetry line.

The Deuterium fuel supply for the Warp Propulsion System (WPS) is contained within the Primary Deuterium Tank (PDT) in secondary or Engineering hull. The PDT, which also feeds the IPS (Impulse Propulsion System), is normally loaded with slush deuterium at a temperature of -259°C, or 13.8K. The PDT is constructed of forced-matrix 2378 cortanium and stainless steel, with foamed vac-whisker silicon-copper-duranite insulation laid down in alternating parallel/ biased layers and gamma-welded.

Penetrations for supply lines, venting lines, and sensors are made by standard precision phaser cutters. There are a total of four main feed manifolds from the PDT to the matter reactant injector, eight cross-feed conduits to the warp engine auxiliary tanks, and four feeds to the main impulse engine.

The total internal volume, which is compartmentalized against losses due to structural damage, is 3,600 m³, though the normal total deuterium load is 3,300 m³. As with the volume of antimatter loaded for a typical multi-mission segment, a full load of deuterium is rated to last approximately three years.

As with any constructed tank, a certain percentage of deuterium molecules is expected to migrate through the tank walls over time. The PDT leak rate has been measured at less than .00002 kg/day. Proportionate values hold for all auxiliary tanks as well.

Slush deuterium is created by standard electro-centrifugal fractionating of a variety of materials, including seawater, outer planet satellite snows, ices, and cometary nuclei, and chilling down the fractionated liquid. Each will result in different proportions of deuterium and tailings, but can be handled by the same Starfleet hardware. Deuterium tanker craft are far more numerous than their antimatter counter parts, and can provide emergency reactants on a few days' notice. Two deuterium-loading ports are located along the ventral structural spine of the aft section. The loading port interface contains structural connections for firm docking within a Starbases or free-floating maintenance dock, as well as pressure relief, purge inlet and outlet fittings, and optical data network hard-lines to the Starbases computers.

Bibliography:

Star Trek The Next Generation Technical Manual by Rick Sternbach and Michael Okuda

Starfleet Dynamics by David Schmidt

Jackill’s Star Fleet Reference Manuals Vols 1, 2 and 3 by Eric Kristiansen

The Star Trek Encyclopedia by Michael Okuda and Denise Okuda

Star Trek The Next Generation Officer’s Manual by FASA Corporation