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[[File:Antimatter storage module.jpg|thumb|An antimatter storage pod]]
 
:''For the [[DS9]] novel, [[Antimatter (novel)|click here]].''
 
:''For the [[DS9]] novel, [[Antimatter (novel)|click here]].''
 
 
'''Antimatter''' was a generalized term used to describe a state of matter which was different in some significant way from another state of matter. The term applied to any of the following, individually or in combinations:
 
'''Antimatter''' was a generalized term used to describe a state of matter which was different in some significant way from another state of matter. The term applied to any of the following, individually or in combinations:
 
 
 
* a [[subatomic particle]] of matter with the opposite charge of another particle that ''has'' a charge (e.g., an [[electron]]);
 
* a [[subatomic particle]] of matter with the opposite charge of another particle that ''has'' a charge (e.g., an [[electron]]);
* a subatomic particle of matter that is a variant of, but with very different properties of, another particle (e.g., a [[Wikipedia:quark|quark]]); and/or
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* a subatomic particle of matter that is a variant of, but with very different properties of, another particle (e.g., a {{w|quark|quark}}); and/or
 
* matter which is physically identical at a macro level to, but exists in a [[parallel universe]] from, other matter.
 
* matter which is physically identical at a macro level to, but exists in a [[parallel universe]] from, other matter.
   
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== Uses ==
 
== Uses ==
Antimatter has been used for a variety of purposes. Depending on the type of antimatter in use it can interact with, modify, or destroy normal matter. As a result it has been used for everything from a component of weapons of mass destruction, to a [[fuel]] source, to scanning technology, to medical uses.
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Antimatter has been used for a variety of purposes. Depending on the type of antimatter in use it can interact with, modify, or destroy normal matter. As a result it has been used for everything from a component of weapons of mass destruction, to a [[fuel]] source, to scanning technology, to medical uses. [[Engineer]]s aboard [[Federation]] [[starship]]s had access to technical manuals about the safety procedures and protocols for the handling and the loading and storing of antimatter. These manuals were stored in the [[Engineering Systems Database]]. ({{TNG|Booby Trap}})
   
 
In [[2366]] the [[non-corporeal]] [[Koinonian]]s drained antimatter from the [[antimatter pod|antimatter containment pods]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} to use it as energy to create their replica of [[Marla Aster]]. This was stopped by increasing the [[shield frequency|shield harmonics]] to match the [[antimatter containment]] effectively severing the Koinonian beam. ({{TNG|The Bonding}})
 
In [[2366]] the [[non-corporeal]] [[Koinonian]]s drained antimatter from the [[antimatter pod|antimatter containment pods]] of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701-D|-D}} to use it as energy to create their replica of [[Marla Aster]]. This was stopped by increasing the [[shield frequency|shield harmonics]] to match the [[antimatter containment]] effectively severing the Koinonian beam. ({{TNG|The Bonding}})
   
 
== Antimatter and time ==
:''When [[Montgomery Scott]] discussed the possibility of using [[auto-destruct]] against [[V'Ger]] with another crewmember in {{film|1}}, he mentioned that the force of an auto-destruct for the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|''Enterprise'']] was around 100 Mt. Utilizing E=MC<sup>2</sup>, it is estimated that the annihilation of 1 kg of antimatter would result in an explosion of about 42.96 Mt. This would mean that NCC-1701 may contain 2 to 3 kg of antimatter.''
 
 
== Antimatter and Time ==
 
 
[[23rd century]] [[Federation]] [[starship]]s discovered that there was a relationship between some types of antimatter &ndash; most notably that used on board &ndash; and [[time]]. What was observed was that certain controlled implosions of antimatter could result in time disruptions, including travel forward and backward in time. This was experienced in [[2266]] by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}. ({{TOS|The Naked Time}})
 
[[23rd century]] [[Federation]] [[starship]]s discovered that there was a relationship between some types of antimatter &ndash; most notably that used on board &ndash; and [[time]]. What was observed was that certain controlled implosions of antimatter could result in time disruptions, including travel forward and backward in time. This was experienced in [[2266]] by the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701}}. ({{TOS|The Naked Time}})
   
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* a subatomic particle of matter with the opposite baryon number of a particle.
 
* a subatomic particle of matter with the opposite baryon number of a particle.
 
So each of the types of antimatter in the body of the article either is known of today and is consistent with ''Star Trek'', or has been seen in ''Star Trek'' and is unknown to or different from 21st century science. For example, today we would say that because it just has mass and directional velocity that the anti-particle of a photon is itself, yet in {{VOY|Flesh and Blood}} the {{USS|Voyager}} is able to produce anti-photons from the deflector dish; clearly a different thing in the episode than a regular photon. Also, the anti-particle of an electron is called a [[positron]] these days; by the 24th century it seems to mean something else, hence the alternative term "antielectron".
 
So each of the types of antimatter in the body of the article either is known of today and is consistent with ''Star Trek'', or has been seen in ''Star Trek'' and is unknown to or different from 21st century science. For example, today we would say that because it just has mass and directional velocity that the anti-particle of a photon is itself, yet in {{VOY|Flesh and Blood}} the {{USS|Voyager}} is able to produce anti-photons from the deflector dish; clearly a different thing in the episode than a regular photon. Also, the anti-particle of an electron is called a [[positron]] these days; by the 24th century it seems to mean something else, hence the alternative term "antielectron".
 
Antimatter engines, as depicted on ''Star Trek'', remain (for the present) a scientific impossibility in the 21st century -- only a few particles of antimatter are present naturally on the Earth at any one time, and creating antimatter in a laboratory is cost-prohibitive, as well as far too time-intensive to allow for the creation of sufficient antimatter to power an engine within a practical timeframe.
 
   
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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== External link ==
 
== External link ==
* {{wikipedia|Antimatter}}
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* {{wikipedia}}
 
 
 
[[Category:Materials]]
 
[[Category:Explosives]]
 
   
 
[[cs:Antihmota]]
 
[[cs:Antihmota]]
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[[fr:Antimatière]]
 
[[fr:Antimatière]]
 
[[it:Antimateria]]
 
[[it:Antimateria]]
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[[nl:Antimaterie]]
 
[[ja:反物質]]
 
[[ja:反物質]]
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[[ru:Антивещество]]
 
[[sr:Antimaterija]]
 
[[sr:Antimaterija]]
 
[[Category:Materials]]
 
[[Category:Explosives]]

Revision as of 11:03, 15 February 2014

Antimatter storage module

An antimatter storage pod

For the DS9 novel, click here.

Antimatter was a generalized term used to describe a state of matter which was different in some significant way from another state of matter. The term applied to any of the following, individually or in combinations:

  • a subatomic particle of matter with the opposite charge of another particle that has a charge (e.g., an electron);
  • a subatomic particle of matter that is a variant of, but with very different properties of, another particle (e.g., a quark); and/or
  • matter which is physically identical at a macro level to, but exists in a parallel universe from, other matter.

Matter/antimatter reaction

See: matter-antimatter reaction

Uses

Antimatter has been used for a variety of purposes. Depending on the type of antimatter in use it can interact with, modify, or destroy normal matter. As a result it has been used for everything from a component of weapons of mass destruction, to a fuel source, to scanning technology, to medical uses. Engineers aboard Federation starships had access to technical manuals about the safety procedures and protocols for the handling and the loading and storing of antimatter. These manuals were stored in the Engineering Systems Database. (TNG: "Booby Trap")

In 2366 the non-corporeal Koinonians drained antimatter from the antimatter containment pods of the USS Enterprise-D to use it as energy to create their replica of Marla Aster. This was stopped by increasing the shield harmonics to match the antimatter containment effectively severing the Koinonian beam. (TNG: "The Bonding")

Antimatter and time

23rd century Federation starships discovered that there was a relationship between some types of antimatter – most notably that used on board – and time. What was observed was that certain controlled implosions of antimatter could result in time disruptions, including travel forward and backward in time. This was experienced in 2266 by the USS Enterprise. (TOS: "The Naked Time")

In 2364, Data had to realign one of Dr. Manheim's systems on Vandor IV with antimatter in order to stop a series of time distortions known as the Manheim Effect. (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris")

Background

This article does not attempt to explain antimatter solely in the way we understand it in the 21st century. For instance, in the real world antimatter can also be any of:

  • a subatomic particle of matter with the opposite linear and angular momentum (which include energy and spin) of another particle that has a linear and angular momentum (e.g., a photon);
  • a subatomic particle of matter with the opposite magnetic moment of a particle that has a magnetic moment (e.g., a neutron);
  • a subatomic particle of matter with the opposite baryon number of a particle.

So each of the types of antimatter in the body of the article either is known of today and is consistent with Star Trek, or has been seen in Star Trek and is unknown to or different from 21st century science. For example, today we would say that because it just has mass and directional velocity that the anti-particle of a photon is itself, yet in VOY: "Flesh and Blood" the USS Voyager is able to produce anti-photons from the deflector dish; clearly a different thing in the episode than a regular photon. Also, the anti-particle of an electron is called a positron these days; by the 24th century it seems to mean something else, hence the alternative term "antielectron".

References

Matter/antimatter engines, containment fields, and the like are in far too many episodes to enumerate. Pertinent references for this article, however, are:

See also

External link