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Welcome to Trekspertise, a series that explores the technology, history, specifics, and choices that contribute to the complexity — and enjoyment — of the Star Trek universe.
The creators of "Star Trek" have consistently aimed to blend their imaginative science fiction concepts with a touch of real-world plausibility. I've always appreciated how Starfleet ships, despite being able to travel faster than light, still face the genuine and immense distances within the actual Milky Way Galaxy. Although "Star Trek" features extraordinary technologies like transporters and food replicators, a group of technical consultants was always present to provide some level of believable technobabble that explained how these devices could function. These efforts gave "Star Trek" a more grounded feel compared to "Star Wars," which never focused on the inner workings of a lightsaber (at least not in the films themselves).
However, as one continues to explore further and further into Star Trek's fictional technology, even the most dedicated technical consultant will eventually need to create something completely new. This is where dilithium crystals play a role.
Dilithium is a fictional mineral used for generating energy, found within the engines of all Starfleet ships in "Star Trek." The engines on a starship are essentially advanced versions of internal combustion engines, but while traditional internal combustion engines transform burning petroleum fuels into power, a starship engine transforms matter/antimatter reactions into energy.One can find information about antimatter on the CERN website., but for "Star Trek" purposes, all we need to understand is that when matter and antimatter meet, they produce a huge explosion. The energy from this explosion goes through a specially designed dilithium crystal, which, because of its special characteristics, helps safely transform the explosion into movement.
How does dilithium work?
Dilithium has made several appearances in "Star Trek," and it appears rather ordinary, similar to a large pink quartz. In fact, the props might simply be quartz crystals. In the invaluableStar Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manualby Rock Sternbach and Michael Okuda, it is noted that dilithium is distinctive because it is permeable to antihydrogen. Antimatter can move through it without causing a reaction, provided the crystals have been exposed to a high-frequency electromagnetic field.
Matter and antimatter are introduced into the central engine core through a large, extended, glowing tube. The prominent pulsating blue "core" frequently shown in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is the component that channels the matter and antimatter. They then combine in amounts controlled by the dilithium crystals, and the resulting explosion is carefully managed within the central core before being channeled into a precisely adjusted plasma stream that supplies thrust.
Even though it isn't shown on screen, the dilithium crystals have two roles. One is to transform the explosions into raw energy, while the other is to regulate the proper amount of energy.into the ship's enormous warp nacelles. The magnetic fields and the matter/antimatter injections must be precisely calibrated for each distinct warp speed. Now you can see why there are always so many engineers moving quickly through the engine room of the USS Enterprise — there's a great deal to monitor. And if anything goes wrong, a significant portion of the ship could suddenly detonate, which is definitely not recommended.
This is also why, in a crisis, the Enterprise could jettison its entire engine core as a last resort. That's the ship's most volatile component. Perhaps even more so.than the photon torpedoes.
The arrangement of dilithium crystals may influence engine performance.
Of course, if a plasma beam is going to exit a dilithium crystal correctly, the energy must flow through the crystal in the proper direction, correct? Imagine the prism on the cover of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." If you wanted that rainbow to point upward instead of downward, you would have to turn it 180 degrees, right? Plus, it would function better if you synchronize it with "The Wizard of Oz."
Similarly with dilithium crystals, you must position them in the exact configuration for optimal performance. In the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Galaxy's Child," it is shown that starship engineers have varying opinions on which crystal arrangements yield the highest energy efficiency. There are established guidelines, naturally, but since dilithium is a naturally occurring substance, no two crystals will be exactly alike according to the laws of nature. Therefore, placing specific crystals in an engine core requires meticulous examination of their surfaces and atomic composition, along with the expertise of a skilled engineer who understands the process. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) and the Enterprise's designer,Leah Brahms (Susan Gibney)once debated the danger of modifying crystals in real time.
It's pleasant to realize that even this fictional mineral possesses enough complexity to spark debate. It's also important to mention that, due to their exposure to electromagnetic fields and their role in powerful explosions, dilithium crystals eventually degrade. A problematic reaction might harm them (or, um, create a wormhole, as occurred in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture"). They are a scarce material and require replacement or recrystallization on occasion.
Dilithium crystals are a natural resource ... and extremely uncommon
Dilithium crystals are a natural resource that only forms on specific planets throughout the galaxy. In fact, dilithium is considered quite scarce. These crystals must still be extracted and refined, and planets frequently work with the Federation to ensure their natural resources are mined in a safe manner. Some fans might remember that the issue of dilithium mining was the central plot in the episode "Mirror, Mirror." As shown inthe film "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,"Mining could still be quite harsh in the future, even within the clean and comfortable "Star Trek" universe. Miners would still need to reside in caves, manually excavate through rock, and face significant dangers. Naturally, in that film, the mine was a Klingon labor camp; one could expect Federation mining methods to be more straightforward and compassionate.
There have been several cases where Starfleet engineers have employed techno-miracles to prolong the lifespan of dilithium crystals. It was referenced in the "Star Trek: Voyager" episode "Innocence" that a crystal could remain functional for approximately three years without replacement, likely through processes involving restructuring and recrystallization. The crew of the USS Voyager also,in the episode "Threshold,"Uncovered a type of dilithium that formed in a perfect atomic structure, which made it perfect for their spacecraft engines. However, since it occurs naturally, the quality can't always be trusted. Before constructing a starship, make sure to consult a geophysics professor.
Notably, dilithium crystals cannot be created artificially. While the future depicted in "Star Trek" focuses on redistributing resources and embracing efficiency, there remains a finite natural resource at its core. It's reasonable to believe that engineers are continuously seeking energy sources that don't rely on dilithium.
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Read the original article on SlashFilm.
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