Transporter

Technical

• Largely based on TNG Technical Manual description, modified as necessary by other presentations
  • All specifics below assuming Federation technology; likely similar but not identical for other implementations
• Essentially based on disassembly of a target object into matter stream structure, transmission and reassembly by a stored pattern to a destination
• Molecular imaging scanners generate quantum-resolution pattern of object to be transported
  • Cargo transporters or other devices not cleared for transport of living objects scan to molecular level only to save storage, allow for faster transport rates by increasing capacity
• Target held in annular confinement beam (ACB) while phase transition coils disassemble target object into largely-debonded matter stream
  • Consciousness and self-awareness persists throughout transport via some means (TNG: "Realm of Fear")
    • Consciousness seems decoupled from material form via transport process (TNG: "Lonely Among Us")
    • Possibly connected to general phenomenon of ascendance to energy beings, existence of non-corporeal life? (TOS Novel: Ex Machina)
• Matter stream directed into pattern buffer, held in suspension during transport cycle
  • Matter stream can be suspended before rematerialization for up to 420 seconds in standard operation in 24th century design before embedded pattern begins to deteriorate and subject is unrecoverable
• Biofilter applied to matter stream to detect patterns corresponding to known dangerous forms of life, removing them from suspension
• ACB projected to destination in preparation for rematerialization, to clear destination of pre-existing matter
• Matter stream transmitted via subspace to projected ACB according to stored data pattern (DS9 Novel: Millennium: Inferno)
  • Stored in linearly-propagating carrier wave on particular subspace frequency (DS9 Novel: Gamma: Original Sin)

History

• Vulcan transporters established well before 22nd century
• Emory Erickson begins development into human transporters 2103 (Reference: Federation: The First 150 Years)
• First successful transportation of a living object 2118 (Reference: Federation: The First 150 Years)
  • Banana
• First cargo transporter completed 2138, research continues into personnel transporter (ENT: "Daedalus")
  • Installed in ECS vessels shortly after
• Erickson personnel transporter completed 2151 (ENT: "Broken Bow")
  • First installed Enterprise NX-01
• Transporter technology spreads through trade to other races in Sol-local space
• Single-bit error rematerialization issue discovered 2162 (ENT Novel: A Choice of Futures)
  • Starfleet policy sets transporters as emergency use only until issue is resolved
• Starfleet Mark I transporters developed
  • Improvements include enhancements to error correction resolving single-bit transposition issue
• Transporter psychosis first diagnosed 2209, Delinia II (TNG: "Realm of Fear")
• Transporters re-established in general use by 2255 (TOS: "The Cage")
• Starfleet Mark IV transporters begin production 2312
  • Improvements include development of multiplex pattern buffer, eliminating transporter psychosis (TNG: "Realm of Fear")
• Starfleet Mark VI transporters begin production 2356 (DS9: "Family Business")
• Starfleet Mark VII transporters begin production 2369 (DS9: "Family Business")
  • Improvements include enhancements to phase transition inhibitor allowing transport of unstable biomatter in the proper configuration (DS9: "Family Business")

Notes

• Most buildings in the Federation constructed of materials that impede beaming in and out of the structure (DS9 Novel: Gamma: Original Sin)

Related Devices

Transporter inhibitor

• Projects a general scattering field to prevent transporter sensor lock
  • Potentially works by emission of high-powered transporter scanning to interfere with opponent scanning (ENT Novel: Uncertain Logic)