| ...Antimatter Generator | |
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The antimatter generator consists of two key assemblies, the matter inlet\conditioner(MI\C0, and the quantum charge reversal device. A typical generator measures some 7.6 x 13.7 meters, and masses 1400 metric tons. It is one of the heaviest components, second only to the warp field coils. The MI\C utilizes conventional tritanium and polyduranide in its construction, as it handles only cryogenic deuterium and similar fuels. The QCRD, on the other hand, employs alternating layers of superdense, forced-matrix cobalt-yttrium-polyduranide and 854 kalinite-argium. This is necessary to produce the power amplification required to hold collections of subatomic particles, reverse their charge, and collect the reversed matter for storage in the antimatter pods. The technology that has given rise to the QCRD is similar to that of the transporter, SIF, IDF and other devices that manipulate matter on the quantum level. The conversion process sees the inlet of normal matter, stretched out into thin rivulets no more than .000003 cm across. The rivulets are pressure-fed into the QCRD under magnetic suspension, where groups of them are chilled to within .001 degree of absolute zero, and exposed to a short-lived stasis field to further limit molecular vibration. As the stasis field decays, focused subspace fields drive deep within the particles to flip the charges and spins of the protons, neutrons and electrons. The (now)antimatter is magnetically removed for storage. The system can normally process .08m2\hr. |
