Plasma

A plasma fire burns on the outer hull of the Enterprise NX-01 in 2154

Plasma is a state of matter. To be more exact, plasma is an ionized gaseous state, which is commonly seen in an electrical arc.

In physics, studies of plasma include plasma dynamics and plasma physics. (TNG: "Peak Performance", "True Q") Individuals who specialize in these fields, and more, include plasma specialists and EPS control specialists. (TNG: "The Game"; ENT: "The Forgotten")

History and use

On Earth, plasma was first created in a controlled environment in the late 20th century with a prototype fusion reactor. However, duration of this stable state was short-lived at that technology level. Typically, warp drive capable civilizations use super-energized "electro-plasma" in their power transfer systems, EPS for short. The electro-plasma is used as both warp plasma for the engines and also converted into standard electrical energy when fed off an EPS tap. Federation EPSs are designed around matter-antimatter reaction assemblies (usually warp cores) or fusion reactors (sometimes the impulse reactors). Besides the large warp plasma conduits, there are smaller plasma conduits, with EPS couplings that transfer power as electricity to all subsystems connected to the power transfer grid. If a plasma conduit or EPS tap becomes ruptured, the contents could set off a plasma fire.

In 2151 Enterprise was hit at the port nacelle by an unidentified alien vessel and lost drive plasma. (ENT: "Silent Enemy")

In 2368, the crew of the USS Enterprise-D managed to turn dust particles in the atmosphere of Penthara IV into plasma by means of a phaser beam and electrostatic energy. (TNG: "A Matter of Time")

Storage

Matter in the plasma phase can reach temperatures of over 3 million Kelvin and cannot be contained in conventional containers; instead it has to be contained using magnetic force fields such as those in a plasma canister or plasma infuser, and transferred through plasma conduits such as the EPS conduits found in a starship or outpost's power transfer grid. (citation needed • edit) Plasma may be stored in plasma canisters or plasma infusers for mobile use, and is used in plasma torches and plasma weapons (such as plasma charges, plasma waves, plasma rifles and plasma torpedoes). It may also be found naturally occurring, such as the energetic anomalies found in plasma storms and plasma fields.