After the M/ARA brings together the Matter and Anitmatter reactants, an energetic plasma is generated. This volatile plasma then leaves the M/ARA Chamber and is sent to the Warp Nacelles by means of a pair or single Power Transfer conduit. This Conduit is similar to the Magnetic Constriction Segments within the Warp Core itself. The magnetic feild produced within the Conduit keeps the plasma centered during its trip through the Power Transfer Conduits. The PTC channels, as they are sometimes called, normally travel rearward from the Warp Core to the Nacelle Pylons, and then to the Warp Nacelles themselves.
Each channel is fabricated from six alternating layers if Machined Tritanium, and Transparent Aluminum Borosiclicate. These layers are phase-welded to produce a single, pressure resistant pipe. Where the PTC channels meet the Warp Core there are sheer-plane joints. These joints can be disconnected form the main core within .08 seconds through the use of Explosive bolts. This quick disconnect is to ensure that the Warp Core can be efficently, and quickly ejected in the event of a Containment Loss, or unstable reaction.
Warp Field Nacelles Once the energetic plasma is brought to the Warp Nacelles by means of the PTC channels, it reaches the point where the Active Propulsion of the ship is done. The Warp Nacelles are made up of a number of critical parts. The first of these parts is the Plasma Injection System. The PIS the terminus of the PTC system, is a series of valved magnetic injectors linked to the Warp Engine controllers. Each injector has a Warp Coil, much in the same way that each cynlinder of a car has a sparkplug. The injectors can be fired in variable sequence depending on the type of flight required, or speed needed.Any discrepancies between the injectors and the computer are smoothed out through the use of Phase-synchronization software. Control inputs and feedback is handled by means of twelve redundant units attached to the Optical Data Network. The injectors are controlled through the use of a Open-Close timing cycle which is variable from 25ns (25 nanoseconds) to 50 nanoseconds. At low Warp Speeds the injectors are operated at low frequencies between 30 and 40Mhz. At higher speeds the injectors can reaches frequencies of between 40 and 50Mhz, at these frequnecies the injectors do not remain open for any longer the 40ns to insure the injector is not frozen open, and cause the ship to go out of control.
The Warp Field Coils, the next major assembly of the Warp Nacelles, are the most massive part of a starship. These coils which are usually split laterally generate an intense multi-layered field which surrounds the ship. Manipulation of that field produces the forward momentum at Warp speeds, or the slowing of the ship at Warp Speeds.
The spilt torriods which make up the coils, are normally made of a densified core of Tungsten-Cobalt-Magnesium for structural stiffening, and embedded with a casting of electronically densified verterium cortenide. The complete mass of a SINGLE Galaxy Class Warp coil is 34,375 metric tonnes, totalling 618,750 metric tonnes just for one set of 18 coils.
During Construction of a starship, the practice of closely matching pairs of coils is till being practiced today. During a refurbishment of the Warp Coils, the time difference between the oldest and the youngest coils should be no more than 6 months. This is to prevent any decrepancies, and minimize differences in coils because of manufacturing methods due to newer technology or changes in supplier.
The propulsive effect of the Nacelles is achieved through the engerization of the verterium cortenide with a coil pair. The energization of the verterium cortenide causes a shift in the energy frequencies carried by the plasma deep into the subspace domain. The shift caused the formation of quantum packets ina field at apoorxiamtely 1/3 the distance from the inner surface of the coil as the verterium cortenide causes changes in the geometry of space at the Planck scale of 3.9 x 10^ -33 cm. THe converted field exits the outer surface of the coil and radiates away form the nacelle. A certain amount of energy recombination nnear the surface of the nacelle grill causes the visible light seen on most ships.
The energy released is manipulated, producing over-lapping layers of energy. This overlapping in a fore-to-aft direction pushes the ship forward. Alternating the amount of overlaping, amount of energy, and speed at which the layers of energy move fore to aft allow changes in the speed of the ship.
The last system which makes up the Warp Nacelles, is not Part of the nacelle itself, in fact it is part of the Warp Nacelle Support Pylon. Although it is not part of the the Emergency Ejection System (ESS) is an important part of the safety of the ship. If a nacelle becomes unstable or is damaged the nacelle is able to be ejected from the ship quickly. The system also closes the plasma injectors to ensure that none of the volatile plasma can cause any damage to the ship.
The reasoning beehind the pairing of Nacelles aboard a ship is to
create
counter-balacing fields. These counter-balanced fields enable the
ship to
manuver at Warp Speeds. In 2269 experimental work with single and
multiple
(more than 2) nacelle combinations yeilded data that two nacelles
is the
optimum number for power and manuverability.
Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual, Michael Okuda and
Rick Sternbach, 1991.
Author - LT James Lythgoe
Date - 06 - 13 - 98
