Star Trek Encyclopedia
H-Q
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
| Hailing frequencies: | A broad range of (subspace) communication frequencies which is used to contact alien ships, in order to ensure that the message is received. Hailing messages are usually sent in various languages, when an unknown alien ship is encountered. |
| Harmonic chamber: | Chamber in which harmonic waves stabilize Omega. |
| Heading: | Flight vector which is specified relative to the center of the galaxy. A heading consists of the two coordinates azimuth (horizontal angle) and elevation (vertical angle). Heading 000-mark-0 represents a direction towards the galaxy center. |
| Hegh'bat ceremony: | Klingon ritual suicide. |
| Heisenberg compensator: | Part of the transporter system that is connected to the molecular imaging scanners and balances out the Heisenberg effect. This effect is a quantum uncertainty that would otherwise not allow to exactly recreate the state of a complex electronic device or an organism, in particular a neural system. |
| Hekaras corridor: | Region of space where warp travel is hindered except for a narrow path by the intense use of warp drives in an already sensitive area. Subspace rifts are formed, where subspace manifests itself in real space on a macroscopic scale. This has made the Federation to set a speed limit, which says that starships may not exceed warp 5, except if Starfleet Command gives permission to go faster. |
| Helium fusion enhancement: | Theoretical technique that would increase the energy output of a dying star by increasing the temperature and pressure inside the star so that the star begins helium fusion, thus increasing the stars useful life. A test of this technique, designed by Dr. Timicin of the planet Kaelon II in 2367, used shock waves from a carefully controlled series of photon torpedo explosions to create zones of elevated pressure where helium ignition could occur. |
| Holodeck: | A room aboard a starship or any other facility equipped with a 360 degree projection and forcefield system to recreate or simulate whatever natural or artificial environment is requested. The projection system is based on the omnidirectional holodiode. Numerous holodiodes are arranged in form of an array in the walls of a holodeck. Mere holographic light projections are employed to recreate remote scenery, while objects likely to be touched may be replicated. The projection always includes the whole three-dimensional structure of the environment, of which the visitor only perceives a two-dimensional cross-section, according to his current visual angle. In order to simulate a much larger environment than the size of the holodeck, forcefields are moving beneath the feet of the participants, while the whole environment is "scrolling". |
| Holodiction: | A psychological conditions when one places the fiction of the holodeck ahead of real life so much that it damages real life relationships and duties. |
| Holoemitter: | Actual device that projects photons and forcefields that make up a Hologram. These are not only on holodecks and holosuites, but most Federation ships have them installed in their Sick-Bay to allow the use of EMH systems. Some of the newer Starships in the fleet, like the Prometheus and Galaxy Dreadnought classes have them installed though out the ship to allow the EMH treat wounded on any deck. |
| Hologram: | Essentially a collection of photons and force fields that take the appearance and feel of 'real' objects and people, like the EMH. |
| Holomatrix: | Combination of all computer (subroutines from a hologram. The holomatrix forms the personality (if a person is simulated), appearance and function of a hologram. |
| Holomatter: | A simulation of matter using force field and holo-imaging technology within the holodeck. Disintegrates when removed from the holodeck. |
| Holonovel: | A simulation where an author has written a story that the "reader" takes an actual part in the story. It is a form of interactive story telling. The object is to completely immerse the "reader" in the fictitious environment. |
| Holosuite: | Fundamentally the same installation as a holodeck. The difference in the word is minor. Holodecks are on Starships while Holosuites are on Starbases and Spacestations. |
| Hoverball: | Sport involving a small ball with an antigravity suspension device and a limited propultion system inside of it. |
| Hull plating | Basically, any form of plates that cover a starship hull. Specifically, polarized hull plates served as a protection against weapons before shields became available. |
| Hyperchannel: | alternate term for subspace radio. |
| Hyperonic radiation: | Deadly radiation. The colonists of Tau Cygna V adapted to it by the proximity of the DeLaure belt, which is a source of it. |
| Hyperspace: | Concept of an additional spatial dimension, used to describe a folded 3-dimensional space. While the term hyperspace is used extremely seldom in Star Trek, in contrast to most other science fiction, it is included in for instance in the wormhole theory. |
| Hyperspanner |
General purpose engineering tool used in Starfleet. |
| Hypospray: | Medical device that allows subcutaneous or intravenous injections without syringe. The hypospray evaporates the medicament and ejects it under high pressure so as to penetrate the epidermis without damage. |
| I | |
| Iconian gateway |
Highly advanced transporting device through which it
is possible to cross vast distances in an instant, built by the Iconian
civilization 200,000 years ago. |
| IDF: | Acronym for Inertial Damping Field, a forcefield that is especially designed to compensate for acceleration forces within a starship. Several IDF generators are distributed throughout a Federation starship. Although the purpose and principle is similar, the IDF works independently of the SIF. Without the IDF, the crew would virtually be crushed when the ship accelerates. |
| IDIC: | Acronym for Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. It is a major baisis for Vulcan philosophy |
| Illium 629: | By-product of geological decay of dilithium. |
| Impulse drive: | Propulsion system for sublight speeds. In Federation starships, the impulse drive usually consists of a fusion reactor, an accelerator, a driver coil assembly and an exhaust director. The fusion reaction generates a highly excited plasma . This plasma can be employed for propulsion, or can be diverted through the EPS so as to supply other systems. The accelerated plasma is passed through the driver coils, thereby a subspace field is generated that improves the propulsive effect. |
| Impulse factor: | Unit of speeds lower than light. We speak of full, half and quarter impulse. The velocity of 'full impulse' depends on the ship's maximum impulse speed. |
| Impulse speed: | Sublight speed which is achieved with the impulse drive, usually measured in fractions of c. For impulse speeds above approx. 0.25c, relativistic considerations are inevitable. |
| Inertial dampers: | Starship device that protects against the enormous G-forces that occur while the ship accelerates or decelerates. The IDs consist field generators, which produce a forcefield of standard 75 millicochranes, the inertial damping field (IDF). As the ship accelerates or decelerates, the IDF is distorted along a typical force vector. This makes the IDF to absorb the G-forces. |
| Interphase: | Rift in the space-time continuum, which made the Defiant disappear and reappear at certain intervals. An interphase is detected through space-time waves. Using an artificial interphase is probably the principle after the interphase cloaking device. |
| Interphase generator: | A cloaking device that manipulates the molecular structure of matter in a way that it is transferred to a parallel space. Matter cloaked with an interphase generator is not only invisible to conventional natural and artificial sensors, it is also able to penetrate normal matter. An interphase generator was installed in the USS Pegasus in 2358, although cloaking devices are prohibited in the Federation according to the Algeron Treaty. |
| Interspatial flexure: | Wormhole-like phenomenon in Devore space, in the Delta Quadrant. The interspatial flexure is very difficult to utilize, because it disappears and re-appears at almost random locations |
| Infernite: | Common chemical explosive. It is often used in conjunction with other explosives to control the blast. |
| Ion: | Atom, electrically charged by 'missing' or 'extra' electrons around it. |
| Ion drive: | Impulse drive, based on magnetic acceleration exhausting of ions in a plasma. Invented in the nineties of the 20th century. Ion propulsion requires far less energy than propulsion by other engines, but is relatively weak. |
| Ion storm: | Massive movement of ions in space. They range in intensity and type, and several are known to cause intense amounts of damage. |
| Ion trail: (warp trail) | Trail of ions, left by any ship on warp or impulse. Many ships are detected because of their ion trail. |
| IPS: (Impulse Power System) | Abbreviation used for impulse drive. |
| Isolinear chip: | Nanotechnical device that serves for data and software storage in 24th Federation computer systems. Optical signal processing is employed in isolinear chips, and FTL signal transfer is enabled when installed in a starship's computer core. Isolinear chips also serve as portable storage devices. It is unknown why these chips are called "isolinear", maybe this refers to the single (iso-) crystalline structure of the optical layers. |
| Isolinear rod: | Cardassian equivalent to Federation isolinear chips. |
| Isolytic weapon: | (Subspace weaponry) Weapon technology that uses subspace as destructive force. Isolytic weaponry is banned by the Federation and more Alpha and Beta Quadrant powers because the effects on subspace and the fabric of space-time are unpredictable. A Son'a vessel used isolytic weapons in an attack on the Enterprise-E |
| Isomagnetic disintegrator: | Large portable energy beam weapon. |
| Isoton: | Unit for the measurement of the explosive force of a weapon, like photon, hellfire, and quantum torpedoes. This unit might be useful, yet it is not very precise. Since "iso-" means "equal", it could represent an equivalent mass of explosives, given in tons. It is very improbable that the (metric?) tons refer to TNT, because present day fission bombs are already in the range of hundreds of kilotons of TNT. The unit probably does not apply to antimatter, either, since a photon torpedo contains only a few kilograms of it |
| J | |
| Jefferies tube: | Service corridor in a Federation starship. A network of Jefferies tubes runs through each starship and provides access to the various conduits (EPS) and waveguides (ODN). |
| Joule: | unit of energy. Abbreviated J. |
| Judge Advocate General: | Military office in charge of internal administrative law over its officers. |
| K | |
| Kai: | Bajoran supreme religious leader. The office is elected by the Vedek Assembly for life. |
| Kanar: | Cardassians alcoholic beverage. It is very viscous for a drink. |
| Ketrecel-white: | addictive drug essential to survival for Jem'Hadar sodiers, who are engineered to require the drug. Only the Vorta have the drug and are able to administer it. |
| Khitomer Accord: | Treaty signed by the United Federation of Planets and the Imperial Klingon Empire. It set the basis for a long peace between them and a subsequent alliance. |
| Kolem: | Romulan unit for power flow. |
| Krieger waves: | Energy source, invented by Dr. Apgar at Tanuga Research Station (near Tanuga IV) |
| Kut'luch: | Klingon bladed weapon favored by assassins |
| L | |
| Laser: | Acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. In a laser, the oscillator (a gaseous, fluid or solid matter) is embedded in a resonator, usually consisting of two mirrors. Continuous energy supply leads to an occupation inversion of energy levels within the oscillator, meaning that more electrons are in an excited (higher energy) state than in the normal state. A large amount of narrow-band light is produced, corresponding to electrons falling back to their normal states. A small part of the generated photons generates new excited electrons, while the major part is emitted through one of the mirrors which is semi-transparent. Laser weapons have been replaced by the more powerful phasers in the 23rd century, however, lasers are still in use as cutting and welding tools. The above description applies to 20th century lasers, and it can be supposed that their principle will not change until the 24th century. |
| Laser-induced fusion: | Engineering term for controlled nuclear fusion in which the required ignition temperatures are created by powerful lasers. Laser induced fusion is used in the impulse drive engines of Federation starships, as well as in the power supply reactors on station Deep Space 9. |
| LCARS: | Acronym for Library Computer Access and Retrieval System, the common user interface of 24th century computer systems, based on verbal and graphically enhanced keyboard/display input and output. The graphical interface adapts to the task which is supposed to be performed, allowing for maximum ease-of-use. |
| Legate: | Cardassian of very high rank. |
| Lek: | Cardassian monetary unit. |
| Life support: | Designation for a number of ship systems necessary to maintain living conditions for the crew, namely atmospheric system, gravity generators and EPS. The life support systems are distributed throughout the ship and redundant systems are available to provide maximum safety for the crew. |
| Light speed: | Physical constant which represents the speed of energy waves and massless particles in vacuum. Light speed is 299,792.458 km/s. The light speed-barrier cannot be broken by Newtonian propulsion drives. |
| Light speed barrier: | Absolute maximum speed for Newtonian travel. Because of relativistic mass increase and slowing time, no Newtonian-traveling object can travel at light speed or above. The only Newtonian systems that can travel at light speed are massless particles and energy waves. |
| Lirpa: | Ancient Vulcan weapon. Sharp curved blade on one end, and a heavy bludgeon on the other. |
| Lita: | Bajoran monetary unity. |
| M5 computers: | Experimental computer designed in 2268 by Dr. Richard Daystrom. The M-5 multitronic unit was the most ambitious computer complex ever created in its time, and was designed with the purpose of correlating and controlling every aspect of a starships' operation. The M-5 multitronic unit was built using a technique that allowed human neural engrams to be impressed upon the computer's circuits, theoretically giving the machine the ability to think and reason like a human. Daystrom hoped that the M-5 would prove as great an advance as his earlier breakthrough in duotronics. The M-5 was tested aboard the Enterprise in 2268 in an exercise that allowed the M-5 to conduct routine contact and survey operations, as well as an elaborate war game that involved four other Federation starships. Although initial tests were promising, the M-5 demonstrated serious problems when it fired full phasers at the Excalibur and the Lexington, killing hundreds of people. Fortunately, the M-5 possessed Daystrom's sense of morality, and it later deactivated itself to atone for the sin of murder. |
| Magnetic boots | Boots used in weightless conditions. |
| Magneton: | Measurement of the magnetic dipole moment of a particle. In Star Trek, the name 'magneton' is used for a particle. |
| Magnetometric-guided charges: | 'Depth-charges' used by the Borg |
| Main bridge: | Control center of a starship, usually located atop the saucer hull of Federation ships. The bridge includes workstations for command (captain and first officer), flight control (Conn), mission operations (Ops), tactical, science, environment and engineering. Most bridges on Starfleet vessels are replaceable modules, so that adaptation to special missions or upgrading the ship is facilitated. |
| Main engineering: | Control center for propulsion, energy distribution, sensor, navigation, environmental and other ship systems, usually located next to the warp core. |
| M/ARA: | (Matter/Antimatter Reaction Assembly) Official name for a warp core in which matter annihilates with antimatter. |
| Master systems display: | display and console used to view and control status of all systems aboard a starship. |
| Matter/antimatter reactor: | (M/AMR) Energy source, used by the Federation as warp core and power source on starships. Also used in phasers. Energy is produced by reactions between matter and antimatter particles. In Federation warp core M/AMRs, deuterium and anti-deuterium is used. |
| Matter/energy scrambler: | Minaran transporter device |
| Medical tricorder: | The standard medical tricorder is a multipurpose technical and scientific instrument. It is a modified TR-580 with an extra external medical probe and scanner attachment. It has the following capabilities: Biosampler, Bioscanner, Chemscanner, Datalink, Environmental Analysis, Medscanner, Multiscanner, and Radscanner. For its size, the Medical Tricorder can maintain and store vast amounts of data in its own memory, which it uses to help evaluate conditions on site. The Medical Tricorder has an external hand-held sensing device. This peripheral contains over 100 sensors, and the Tricorder contains a specialized medical database that provides detailed medical diagnostic tools in the field including tomographic and micrographic imaging. A small diagnosis wand fits into the top of the peripheral and is occasionally used by the physician to provide close high-resolution scans. Together, these sensors allow the Medical Tricorder to make very detailed diagnosis on known species. On unknown species, it is limited to telling if the life-form is sick or dying. A detailed analysis is not possible in such a situation. Effective range is about three yards. |
| Mek'leth: | Klingon bladed weapon about half as long as a bat'leth. It only has one handle and is much more difficult than a bat'leth to wield. However, it is more versatile and deadly when wielded by a warrior with significant skill. |
| Melakol: | Romulan unit for pressure. |
| Metagenic weapon: | Genetic mass destruction weapon prohibited by the Federation. The Cardassians deceived the Federation in 2368 when they spread rumors about a metagenic weapon. |
| Metaphasic particles: | Particles, abundant in the rings of the Ba'ku homeworld, which emit metaphasic radiation. |
| Metaphasic radiation: | Radiation caused by -> metaphasic particles. The metaphasic radiation from the planetary rings around the Ba'ku homeworld continually regenerates biologic cells, so the natural aging process of the Ba'ku is stopped. |
| Metaphasic shield: | Shield capable of protecting a vessel from the intense radiation and high temperature inside the corona of a star. The metaphasic shield was developed by the Ferengi scientist Dr. Regar. |
| Metryon cascade: | Mass destruction weapon used by the Haakonians that killed many of the inhabitants of the Talaxian moon Rhinax, and left the survivors suffering from a deadly blood disease, metrymia. |
| Metryons Particles: | High levels of exposure can infect a humanoid with metrymia, a blood disease that causes its victims' cells to undergo fission. The Haakonians used a deadly weapon called the metryon cascade wipe out Rhinax, a Talaxian moon. |
| Micronization warp drive: | Experimental new type of warp drive, used aboard the Defiant. This warp drive incorporates injection of delta isotopes into the warp plasma. This is because warp speeds above warp 9.5 produce time dilation (time aboard slows down). Delta isotopes have effect on dimensional temporal stability, 'pushing' the Defiant forward in time and thus neutralizing the time dilation effect. |
| Mind sifter: | Klingon device used to empty a brain of valuable information. Its side effects include brain damage. |
| MLSS: | Multi-Layered Shielding System Layer 3 - The outermost layer manipulates graviton polarity in a way not typical to shields, creating a graviton flux disruption that prevents many know designs of threat tractor beam from locking on to the vessel. This layer also incorporates transport inhibitor technology, helping prevent an enemy from transporting aboard. Layer 2 - The middle layer incorporates automatic rotation of frequency and modulation with meta-phasics, which absorbs enemy fire, spreads it out along the shield. This shield sends data on what type of weapon is used and what frequency and phase the weapon uses. Once this is analyzed, the shield can be configured to have the same frequency as the incoming weapon, but different modulation, which dramatically increases shield efficiency. Layer 1 - The innermost shield layer is a multi-phasic shield. Based on standard regenerative shielding, this is the ship's last line of defense. The key to this layer is it's ability to 'wave' while in a state of temporal flux. |
| Mobile emitter: | Device which enables the EMH of the starship USS Voyager to work in environments without holoprojectors. This device originates in the 29th century. Voyager has sent data on the emitter to Starfleet in datastream transmissions and Starfleet has designed similar, but not as advanced emitter of it's own. These have been distributed though out Starfleet. |
| Mobile Surgical Frame (MSF): | 24th century medicine has advanced significantly over the past few years with the introduction of the EMH and the refinement of micro-surgery. However, we still have a long way to go in regard to planetary medicine. In the past, severely injured patients in the field had only two choices, wait to be transported back to a medical facility, or have an operation in a less-than-sterile environment. The MSF was designed to replace the latter option. Put simply, the Mobile Surgical Frame is the same as the Surgical Support Frame integrated into bio-beds on Starships, only on a portable scale. This technology will be invaluable to field medics and hospitals as well as starship medical officers. Thank you for considering this proposal. |
| Mok'bara: | Klingon martial-arts form |
| Monean homeworld: | The Monean homeworld is a true galactic phenomenon. Created some 100,000 years ago by the ancestors of the Moneans, the Monean homeworld is an artificial 'ball' of water, some 1200 km in diameter. The 'planet' is created by pumping all surface water of the original class-M homeworld to above the surface, and there concentrating it in a spherical, planetary form. Cohesion is maintained by a gravimetric field reactor in the core of the 'planet'. Although 100,000 years old, the reactor is still functioning fine, but the increased pressure of the water world on the reactor's hull forced the reactor to resist, a loss of planetary cohesion as side-effect |
| Multifire Phaser Strips: | New phaser array for the Galaxy Class Dreadnought, designated Type-XV. Each strip can lock onto and fire up to a maximum of ten beams at ten different targets. |
| Multitronics: | computer technology developed by Dr. Richard Daystrom. Although it didn't have any successful direct applications, it developed techniques that became useful in subsequent decades. |
| Murasaki 312: | Galactic quasar-like phenomenon which emits high levels of electromagnetic radiation. |
| N | |
| Nacelle: | part of a starship that contains the warp coils. |
| Nadions: | Particles produced as the output produced by phasers. Nadions are short-living particles possessing special properties related to high-speed interactions with atom nuclei. Among these properties is the ability to liberate and transfer strong nuclear forces within a particular class of superconducting crystals. |
| Nanites: | Nanotechnical devices developed by the Federation to work in microscopic environments, for instance on a cellular level in a human body. In 2366, nanites were discovered to have developed a consciousness. The capabilities and the size of nanites are discussed here. |
| Nanoprobes: | Microscopic devices that are programmed to convert (assimilate) a living organism to a Borg drone. Once injected to the blood stream, the nanoprobes take control of the organism and form the first Borg implants. The mere injection of nanoprobes is obviously sufficient to change the whole metabolism in an instant and, moreover, form Borg implants that exceed the size of all nanoprobes combined by far. Maybe the nanoprobes are equipped with some kind of replicator that converts body tissue to metallic implants. The size of the nanoprobes is probably not in the nanometer range but larger. |
| Nanosurgeon: | A suspension of nanotechnological assemblies that are typically used to survey cellular genetic damage and effect repairs. They report to, and are monitored by, the attending physician. Nanosurgeons are useful to repair additional damage that drugs or other materials cannot affect. |
| Navigational deflector: | Device that deflects potential obstacles in a starship's flight path. The deflector dish usually produces a low-power static field for deflecting submicron particles and a concentrated main beam that pushes aside larger objects thousands of kilometers ahead of the ship. Deflector beams are indispensable at warp speed, for already a submicron particle could penetrate and damage the hull. Miranda and Constellation-class starships do not seem to have navigational deflectors. Still, considering the necessity of such a device, there could be a small emitter that looks different from other designs. |
| Nebula: | Cloud of gas in the galaxy, with a typical measurement of multiple light-years. Typical nebulas are composed of hydrogen, helium and bits of oxygen and other trace elements. |
| Nekrit Expanse: | Huge nebula in the Delta Quadrant, considered as a dangerous place. |
| Neural implant | Generic name for any kind of implant to a human(oid) brain, specifically to provide an interface to A VISOR. |
| Neurolink: | Allows a healthy "donor" to take over autonomic functions for a patient suffering from brain stem damage. One link is attached to the head of the "donor" and the other on the head of the patient. Upon activation, the autonomic functions of the donor control the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, etc. |
| Neurostimulator: | This device "jumpstarts" the Central Nervous System of patients who have suffered some form of neuro-synaptic failure. This is particularly useful to treat a patient who has suffered CNS shock from the higher settings of a Phaser. |
| Neutrinos: | Particles, with almost no mass, traveling at almost the speed of light. Predicted in the 1930's by the famous quantumphysician Enrico Fermi, and found in 1956. Stars produce hundreds of billions of neutrinos per second. Cloaked ships emit neutrinos. |
| Neutron Radiation: | Naturally occurring. Emitted from older classes of the Klingon Bird of Prey, neutrons not contained within an atomic nucleus have a half-life of about 15 minutes. |
| Neutronic mine: | Borg weapon. It spreads neutrons over a distance of at least 5 light-years. The explosive force is 5 million isotons. |
| Neutronium: | Very cohesive material made of densely-packed neutrons, held together by gravity. |
| Newtonian: | A system is Newtonian when it's strictly restricted to the laws of Newton. |
| Newtonian propulsion: | Propulsion, based on the action/reaction laws of Newton. An Newtonian propulsion drive cannot break the light speed barrier. Impulse drive is a Newtonian drive. |
| Non-Newtonian propulsion: | Propulsion drive that has no normal action/reaction component associated with it. Non-Newtonian drives can break the barrier-barrier, because it 'violates' the action/reaction laws of Newton. |
| Nova: | Burst of energy in the last phase of the life of a light star (like our sun). A nova can cause a star to reject his outer layers. |
| Nullifier cores: | Energy sources onboard of cloak capable ships. Nullifier cores dissipate the energy they use, so the energy emissions can't be detected from outside the ship. |
| O | |
| Obsidian Order: | The ruthless internal security and intelligence organization of the Cardassian Union prior to its destruction in 2371. |
| Ocular: | referring to the eye. |
| Ocular implant |
Cybernetic implant as a replacement for the human
eye. |
| ODN: | Acronym for Optical Data Network, the system of fiber-optics used in 24th century computer systems. Optical data transfer offers the advantage of a higher bandwidth than electrical connections and is therefore increasingly employed for long-range transmission as well as for local networks. |
| Omega: |
Complex artificial molecule that can be employed for power generation. Not
sufficiently contained, a single omega molecule can disrupt subspace within
a range of several light-years, so that warp travel becomes impossible. The
omega molecule was detected independently by the Federation, the Borg and an
alien civilization in the Gamma Quadrant, however, each time the attempt to
employ it as a power source failed. The Federation issued the Omega
Directive that obliges every Starfleet captain to destroy any detected omega
molecule under all circumstances. |
| Omicron particles: | Particles, created by Space Nebula Creature, used in 'circulatory' system. Thought to be a substitute for anti-matter for the warp drives, as well as fuel for the replicators. |
| Osteotractor: | Medical tractor fields used to set and immobilize a broken bone prior to treatment with a Protoplaser. They act as a temporary cast during treatment. |
| P | |
| PADD: | Acronym for Personal Access Display Device, a hand-held access terminal to a computer system. PADDS are equipped with a display and touch sensitive areas and have limited built-in memory and computing capability. They are employed to establish uplinks and downlinks to computer systems and may serve as transporter locks-ons. Apart from Starfleet, PADDs are used by most other advanced civilizations. Since it is a non-expensive prop, different PADD designs exist for virtually every civilization in Star Trek. Still, the user interface is similar for all of them, indicating that a common standard was found for ergonomic design. This might explain why no one has ever difficulties in using alien PADDs, let alone reading their letters. |
| Pagh: | according to the Bajoran Religion, it is a person's life force. |
| Pagh'tem'far: | sacred vision in the Bajoran religion. |
| Pah-Wraiths: | Evil Bajoran spirits. They are noncorporeal lifeforms. They are the enemies of the Bajoran Prophets (wormhole aliens) |
| Par'Mach: | Klingon word for love |
| Parallax: | The error caused by taking the measurement from a skewed position. |
| Parallel universe: | Universe existing outside our normal four-dimensional space-time. Normally, entropy considerations would not allow the two universes to develop in a similar way, once there are considerable differences established. |
| Parsec: | Unit of length used for interstellar distances. 1 parsec is approximately 3.26 light-years. |
| Particle synthesis: | Advanced matter replication technology, supposedly superior to Federation replicators. Particle synthesis is employed by Arturis's people and by Species 8472. |
| Pattern buffer: | Part of the transporter system, usually located on the deck below the transporter platform. The pattern buffer is used for short-term storage of the matter stream, thereby providing a delay necessary to compensate for relative velocity (Doppler compensator, filter out hazardous organic materials (biofilter) or transfer the pattern to another pattern buffer in case of a transporter malfunction. |
| Pattern enhancer: | Device that improves transporter pattern recognition in case of electromagnetic disturbances. The pattern enhancer is a cylinder with a length of approx. 1m and was introduced in Starfleet around 2369. Usually three pattern enhancers are employed in a triangular formation around the object that is supposed to be beamed. |
| Peak transitional threshold: | Initial power necessary to achieve an integer warp factor. The peak transitional threshold is much higher than the power to maintain the respective velocity. The introduction of the peak transitional threshold obviously serves to justify the strange warp scale, where the warp factor is not simply WF=v/c or WF=log(v/c), but WF=(v/c)^1/3. For this purpose, the power to maintain a subspace field is designed to exhibit significant peaks which are sequentially numbered and designated as warp factor. A simple explanation (which is also corroborated on Jason Hinson's website is that this behavior is attributed to the subsequent activation of additional warp field layers for higher velocities, which is accomplished by a suited warp field activation sequence. Eugene's limit can be included into this theory in a way that more than 9 layers are not efficient to facilitate high-warp propulsion, so the complete remaining speed range is compressed within the range between Warp 9 and Warp 10, the latter equals infinite speed. In fact, the official diagram of power expenditure shows that the power saving after the peak transitional threshold decreases from 100 at Warp 1 to 2.75 at Warp 9, suggesting that this factor would be still smaller at another (imaginary) threshold. It is possible that Eugene's limit has been found as late as in the 24th century, so previous warp tables assumed 10 or more layers to be useful. |
| Phase pistol |
Particle weapon, precursor of a
phaser, used in the 22nd century. |
| Phase shift: | Generic term for a movement to a state outside the normal space-time continuum. Usually phase shift seems to be an essentially temporal displacement, while the interphase generator might be based on a spatial shift or parallel space. |
| Phased: | State or property of matter and energy. Things can be offset slightly in a time-like dimension from our 'phase' of the universe. The idea being that if you and I have different 'phases' we can't interact with each other without using special particles or fields. |
| Phased matter: | Intermediate state between matter and energy. The term is used for the matter stream generated in the transporter as well as for excited matter produced in the warp and impulse reactors, where it seems to be the same as plasma. |
| Phaser: | Acronym for PHASed Energy Rectification, energy discharge weapon used by the Federation. Energy stored in the Phaser is released within a short time and directed towards the target, unlike the usually constant energy output of lasers. The phaser's function is based on the rapid nadion effect, where nadions are subatomic particles that allow to liberate strong nuclear forces. Shipboard phaser banks are attached to the outer hull of a starship in form of small apertures or domes in the 23rd century that are extended to segmented strips and finally rings in the 24th century. Phaser beams travel at light speed, and the maximum efficient operation range is 300,000km. Hand-held phasers are available in different sizes, ranging from small Type 1 and larger Type 2 to phaser rifles. Since phasers have to be recharged, it's obvious that continuous firing is not possible, neither with a hand-held device, nor with the shipboard phasers. |
| Phaser Array: | Liner Arrays of phaser emitter crystals. Ship borne weapons. These were introduced on the Ambassador Class in the early 2300s, replacing the older Phaser Banks as a ship's primary weapons system. Improvements over Phaser Banks are shorter recharge times, shorter cool down times (heat is spread out over several emitter crystals instead of one bank), thus improving power yields and ranges. |
| Phaser Bank: | Phaser emplacement on early (2200-2300) Federation starships. Ball turret emplacements normally housed in twos. Phaser Banks had longer cool down, longer recharge times, and shorter ranges then modern Phaser Arrays. |
| Phase transition coils: | Parts of a transporter, in which phased matter is injected to be converted back to normal matter. |
| Phonon: | A quantum of acoustic energy |
| Photon torpedo: | Matter/antimatter annihilation weapon used by Starfleet, the Klingon Defense Force, and others. A Starfleet photon torpedo contains deuterium and magnetically constrained antideuterium tanks, target guidance and a warp sustainer. In contrast to phasers, photon torpedoes can be used at warp speed. Since photons are involved as late as the device explodes, the term "photon" torpedo is very inaccurate and could apply to a nuclear weapon as well. |
| Photonic Missile: | Borg weapon similar to photon torpedoes. |
| Plasma: | Ionized gas, often regarded as the forth state of matter besides the solid, fluid and gaseous state. Consisting of charged particles, plasma is electrically conductive. Due to this property and the fact that the excited electrons in a plasma are on higher energy level than bound electrons in other forms of matter, plasma is suited to transport energy. In particular, plasma is employed to provide the necessary power for the warp drive and other systems of a starship. The EPS serves to distribute plasma throughout the ship. The continuously occurring relaxation of excited electrons from a higher to a lower energy level becomes obvious in a characteristic glow. |
| Plasma Infusion Unit: | An instrument used for transfusions of blood, blood plasma, and/or electrolytes into patients that need them. It is used the same way blood transfusions in the 20th-century. The Plasma Infusion Unit also provides filtration of the material to be delivered. |
| Plasma injectors: | Part of the warp drive that injects matter in the matter/antimatter reactor. There are matter- and antimatter injectors. |
| Plasma Torpedo: | Projectile weapon used by Romulans. Shaped plasma charge that uses ionized gas and trilithium. Original Romulan plasma torpedoes were pure plasma that dissipated the further it traveled. Current design doesn't suffer from this draw back. It's destructive force is slightly more then a Photon torpedo. |
| Polaric ions: | Used as a power generation system by alien species. Very unstable, caused a disaster on the planet, killing all life and vegetation on the planet's surface. The Federation prohibited experiments with polaric ions in 2268. |
| Polaron beam: | Beam of polaron particles. Primary beam weapon used by the Dominion. The Borg use polaron beams for scanning. |
| Polaron torpedoes: | Projectile using polaron particles as an energy source in the warhead. Primary torpedo weapon used by the Dominion and The Order. |
| Pon farr: | Vulcan time of mating. Happens every seven years, causing an irresistible urge to mate. |
| Portal: | Portals are like wormholes, gateways to other parts of the Galaxy allowing nearly intentions travel which could take years at high warp. Portals were designed and built by Iconians, whom also built smaller personal sized portals. |
| Positronic brain: | Neural network type employed as central processing units for androids of the Soong series. Considering that positrons are actually antimatter, it is highly improbable that these particles are employed in the positronic brain. The concept was suggested by Isaac Asimov in the 20th century. |
| Power transfer conduits: | Conduit system on a starship, which transfers high-energetic plasma from the warp core to the warp nacelles. PTCs have a critical temperature of 3,200,000 degrees Kelvin. |
| Praetor: | title of the leader of the Romulan Star Empire. |
| Primary hull: | Another name for the saucer section on a starship. |
| Prime Directive: | Starfleet General Order #1. It prohibits Starfleet personnel from interfering with the normal development of any society |
| Probe: | Device fitted with a number of general purpose or mission specific sensors that can be launched from a starship for closer examination of celestial objects or for reconnaissance. Most Federation probes are about the size of a photon torpedo, and some of them actually use a torpedo casing. Probes are a logical consequence considering that the resolution of the built-in long-range sensors is limited and that there is a signal decay over long distances. |
| Projectile weapon | Generic name for any kind of weapon that uses a projectile instead of a particle or energy beam. Projectile weapons are generally outdated in the 24th century, but the TR-116 designed for environments in which phasers are useless and probably with the Borg in mind too, is a formidable weapon. It was modified by an assassin with a built-in transporter for the projectile, thereby rendering it even more dangerous. |
| Prophets: | Bajoran 'gods', for lack of a better word. They are also referred to as the [Bajoran] wormhole aliens. They are responsible for keep the Bajoran wormhole stable and sending the Bajoran Orbs to the Bajoran people. |
| Protomatter: | An unstable form of matter used by David Marcus as a short cut in the construction of the Genesis Device. Because of the instability of protomatter, the Genesis Planet began to age geologically at an accelerated rate. |
| Protostar: |
Very young star, still forming out of his nebula. Seen
multiple times in Star Trek. In 'The Omega Directive', Harry Kim says that
blowing up a Type 6 protostar could open a wormhole. Pulse phaser cannon: Phaser weapon used in Defiant, Raptor and Titan class starships as well as all Federation Fighters. This system takes a large amount of phased matter from warp or impulse engines, then it's bundled in a solid shell. An emitter, using artificial crystals, fires rapidly. The pulse phaser cannon is more powerful than a conventional phaser beam. |
| PXK reactor: | Power source |
| Pyroforic: | Having a tendency to explode or catch fire very easily, especially with air. |
| Q | |
| Qa'vak: | traditional Klingon game with a half-meter hoop that is rolled on its end. A warrior attempts to throw a spear through the hoop as it is rolled. This is to hone the warrior's kills at the spear. |
| Qapla': | Klingon word for success. |
| Quadrant: | fourth of a graph or spatial representation. Often used to refer to a fourth of the galaxy. |
| Q Continuum: | Realm of the Q entities. |
| Quad: | Unit for the measurement of the amount of computer data, usually expressed in the multiples of 1000 (kiloquad), 1 million (megaquad) or 1 billion (gigaquad). Since the storage capacity and computing velocity of contemporary computers is exponentially increasing, the TNG episodes would have become ridiculous after a few years, if computer data aboard the Enterprise had been measured in bytes. In this respect it was a wise decision to introduce quads instead and to veil the conversion factor from bytes to quads |
| Quantum fissure: | Point in the space-time continuum, being a keyhole to alternate quantum realities. |
| Quantum flux: | State of dimensional instability, or continual change. |
| Quantum singularity: | Also referred to as black hole. Romulan ship, like the Warbird employ a quantum singularity as their power source, and the Hirogen communications network too. Basically, a black hole is supposed to accumulate energy, never ever emitting anything of it. Stephen Hawking, however, postulated that black holes do actually emit radiation, or shrink in terms of mass. This strange behavior is attributed to the quantum uncertainty. According to quantum mechanics, it is in no way prohibited that a particle/antiparticle pair is generated from nothing, as long as their lifetime is so short that it is not noticed. If this happens at the event horizon, one particle might fall into the black hole, whereas the other could escape. In this case it would seem as if the black hole does emit radiation, and the Romulans obviously take advantage of this effect. |
| Quantum slipstream drive: | Propulsion technology exceeding the capabilities of conventional warp drive. |
| Quantum torpedo: | Torpedo that employs a release of energy from a quantum vacuum energy (also known as zero point energy, in real life) as a destructive force. |
| Quasars: | (QUAsi StellAR Objects, or QSO's) Extragalactic phenomenon's dating from the early years after the Big Bang. Quasars are strong sources of radio- and X-rays. It's believed that they're powered by a super-massive black hole, centered in the nucleus of a young galaxy. The last quasars are dated from 600 million years ago, but most are dated much older. Galactic, quasar-like phenomenon's powered by smaller black holes are called microquasars. |