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Dilithium Matter/Antimatter Reactor Array
Power output from the M/ARA is measured in Cochranes, named after Zefram Cochrane , the inventor of the Warp Engine.
| Warp Speed | Cochranes | Velocity |
|---|
| 1 | 1 | C |
| 2 | 10 | 10xC |
| 3 | 39 | 39xC |
| 4 | 102 | 102xC |
| 5 | 214 | 214xC |
| 6 | 392 | 392xC |
| 7 | 656 | 656xC |
| 8 | 1024 | 1024xC |
| 9 | 1516 | 1516xC |
The basic function of the M/ARA is as follows;
- Deuterium is funnelled from the top of the array and impacts with Anti-Deuterium from theAnti-Matter Containment Podsat the base of the array in the constraints of the Dilithium crystal.
- The Dilithium, being the only substance that does not react to Antimatter even at high energy levels, acts to focus the energies and channel the energy into plasma.
- The plasma is then drawn through the EPS system to the nacelles.
- In the nacelles the super heated plasma impacted on the Warp coils before venting harmlessly into space.
- The energised Warp coils produce a Warp field which contains the entire ship in an area of semi-real space. This area of space has negligible real space-time mass and so can be accelerated with ease, while within the Warp field the ship does not need to accelerate much at all. The interface between the Warp field and real space becomes increasingly difficult to maintain the faster it is moved, and the required energies increase exponentially.
The conversion of matter to energy is calculated according to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity’s equation, E=MC2, where E is the energy released when an atom of mass M is destroyed, and C is the speed of light (303 m/s). You can see by this method that a single atom of hydrogen (Atomic Mass 1) and anti-hydrogen (also Mass 1) would result in immense amounts of energy.
E=M C2
(183618) = (2) x (91809)
Catastrophic Malfunction
Although the computers automated systems tend to "er on the side of caution", some times a fault will occur that will require immediate scram of the Warp core. If this system fails (due to fuel port seizure, system malfunction, Magnetic Restrictor failure, or overheating of the engine) the engine core can be dumped into space. A force field will be erected around the core, and it is dropped out a hatch at the bottom. It is followed closely by the Anti-Matter Containment Pods (ejected one at a time) since they are of no use without the core.
If the Magnetic Containment Field ever drops below 16%, for whatever reason, the Warp core will breach. The resulting release of energy will destroy the ship and crew completely.
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