Warp drive

Basic functioning

• Warp reactor (officially known as a "gravimetric field displacement manifold", occasionally known as "hyperdrive" as late as the mid-23rd century) generates high energy, exotic particles
• Reactants and energy, often in the form of "warp plasma", are directed through devices known as warp coils, often mounted in nacelle structures mounted away from the ship
• Warp coils function in specifically-aligned sequence to generate a subspace displacement field
  • Subspace field distorts physical laws via manipulation of subspace causing resulting modification of associated space-time
• Distorted space, also known as a "warp bubble", pushes against surrounding space to propel a ship, most commonly at faster-than-light velocities
• Velocity vector can be modified through alteration of field alignment in coils, though this can cause nacelles to exert stress on spaceframe
• Alternate warp drive configurations
  • Vulcan 22nd century coleopteric drive
    • Massive rear-mounted ring structure holding warp coils; single structure means greater efficiency at higher speeds, but less ability to modify course
  • Romulan quantum singularity drive
    • Uses strong gravitational fields around a small quantum singularity as a natural particle accelerator to generate the necessary warp plasma and exotic particles
• Byproducts of warp drive reactors:
  • Early warp drive designs generate theta radiation (VOY: "Night")
    • Corrected in most Alpha and Beta Quadrant drive designs by transkinetic chamber to break down residual antimatter from M/AM interaction, radiometric converters to absorb theta radiation
  • Trilithium resin

Generations

• First-generation drives short-ranged, tend to be powered via antimatter-spiked fusion reactors (ENT Novel: Patterns of Interference)
• Second-generation drives use dilithium to mediate matter/antimatter reaction for greater efficiency (ENT Novel: Patterns of Interference, Reference: TNG Technical Manual)

Historical achievement of warp drive

• Andorian: 20th century
• Human: 2063 ("First Contact")
• Klingon: after 9th century
  • After the death of Kahless (TNG: "Rightful Heir")
• Romulan: 7th century (Reference: The Way of D'era: The Romulan Star Empire)
• Vissian: 12th century (ENT: "Cogenitor")
• Vulcan: mid-19th century
  • 1,500 years after time of Surak (ENT: "The Forge")