Warp drives:

A warp drive operates by creating a stable warp field around the ship. This warp field is carefully shaped with a level central region over the ship itself, then tapering off into normal space in what is called the interaction region. By maintaining a continuous matter-antimatter reaction, the ship can maintain this warp field indefinitely. If the antimatter reaction stops, the field will collapse within 4 seconds. To the outside universe, matter within the central region of a warp field appears to have a lower effective mass than usual. Further, energy which passes into the warp field through the interaction region will be distorted or reflected. The starship can be propelled faster than light by creating a nested series of asymmetrical warp fields. Inside the warp nacelles, a reacting stream of matter and antimatter is maintained in a continuous, shaped path to create the fields. The warp field then propel the ship by transferring momentum into subspace, increasing with each nested field. Maneuvering is accomplished by a more intense matter-antimatter reaction at the central intermix chamber. The resulting subspace reaction is then focussed by (traditionally) dilithium crystals, affording greater control over the resulting field shape. This is used to accelerate, decelerate, turn, and modulate the standing warp fields projected from the nacelles.

Warp Core:

Part of the warp drive in which power is generated through a controlled annihilation of matter and antimatter, also referred to as matter/antimatter reaction chamber (M/ARC). The complete warp power generation system including the warp core, matter and antimatter injectors and constriction elements, is called matter/antimatter reaction assembly (MARA). Matter and antimatter stream are combined in the dilithium crystal inside the warp core, resulting in a (warp) plasma stream. A failure of antimatter containment is commonly referred to as warp core breach. In this case antimatter can get in contact with matter, leading to a disastreous explosion that most probably destroys the ship. In case of a containment failure, the warp core offers the possibility of an emergency shutdown. If the shutdown does not work, it is possible to eject the whole MARA.

Warp Nacelle:

Part of the warp drive that holds the warp coils, plasma conduits and injectors, usually in a separate housing. Almost all Federation starships employ an even number of nacelles, arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis. While most vessels have two nacelles, a number of starships (for instance Constellation class, Cheyenne class and the U.S.S. Prometheus) are equipped with four of them. The Freedom class, on the other hand, is one of the very few ship classes with a single nacelle. Support pylons connect the nacelles to the ship's hull and supply the warp coils with plasma through power transfer conduits. Usually, a Bussard collector is attached to the front end of each warp nacelle. Romulans and Klingons use warp nacelles similar to the Federation type. Ships with two warp nacelles look much better than those with only one nacelle, yet, there is a more technical explanation for this design rule. An even number of nacelles symmetrical to the ship's centerline obviously serves for better stability and maneuverability. With such a configuration the ship's flight path can easily be changed or corrected through different firing sequences for the two sets of warp coils, thereby generating an angular momentum (the ship's "rudder"). This does not work well with a single, symmetrical nacelle, where only the plasma stream can be regulated in order to steer the ship. Warp nacelles are usually not directly attached to the engineering hull so as to provide an optimum shape of the warp field. The blue glowing in the warp nacelle's centerline could be attributed to excess energy flowing back from subspace which potentially replenishes the warp plasma. Besides, the plasma glowing can be used to distinguish the ships of the various civilizations: Federation - blue, Romulans - green, Klingons - red, Cardassians - yellow, Ferengi - orange, Dominion - violet.

Impulse drives:

Impulse Drives are used to power the ship when speeds of less than the speed of light are required. They are also used to provide power to many ship systems even while under Warp. They employ advanced fusion-type reactors to provide energy and/or thrust as required. Impulse engines are used for planetary orbits, and for entering and exiting planetary systems. Standard full Impulse speed is one quarter light speed. This is not the top speed possible, but only represents the prevention of severe time-dilation effects. Deuterium serves as the fuel source for Impulse engines. The Helium plasma produced by the fusion process is used for thrust.

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