120 "What is Quantum SlipStream Drive?" (Warp and Subspace - Star Trek)
Description
This article is from the Star Trek Tech FAQ, by Joshua Bell inexorabletash@hotmail.com with numerous contributions by others.
120 "What is Quantum SlipStream Drive?" (Warp and Subspace - Star Trek)
Article by Jeremy H. Pace
From Webster's Dictionary:
Quantum
2 a : any of the very small increments or parcels into which
many forms of energy are subdivided
b : any of the small subdivisions of a quantized physical
magnitude (as magnetic moment)
Slipstream
1 : a stream of fluid (as air or water) driven aft by a
propeller
2 : an area of reduced air pressure and forward suction
immediately behind a rapidly moving vehicle
In "Hope and Fear" [VOY] an alien race [Borg species designation 116]
who are furious with Janeway's solving the Borg's species 8472 problem
designs a fake experimental Starfleet ship for Voyager to "find" in
the Delta Quadrant. Called the Dauntless, this ship appears to be of
the same size or larger in mass than the Voyager, but has only minimal
living space. The special hyperdrive is not warp but a new method
called "quantum slipstream". An accidental jumpstart and research into
the drive gives the following explanation: quantum energies from a
quantum reactor in Engineering are funneled to the main deflector
array, which then opens up a "quantum slipstream" in "slipstream
space", a non-subspace dimension where incredible velocities can be
attained.
Voyager uses the quantum slipstream (but not the Dauntless) to gain
300 light-years on their journey in only a few minutes, maybe an hour.
They are forced to stop using the quantum slipstream because of the
incredible stresses it puts on Voyager's hull.
In "Timeless" [VOY], it seems that Engineer Torres and the rest of the
crew have managed to reverse-engineer the Dauntless' quantum reactor.
Using Bedemite crystals and other exotic components, a quantum matrix
is cobbled together that will allow for quantum slipstream travel.
Ensign Harry Kim has doubts about the math, fears that are proven in
holodeck simulation and in actual use. It turns out that Voyager runs
into phase variant imbalances while using the quantum slipstream
drive, making travel hazardous. After only a few minutes of travel,
Voyager is forced to drop out of quantum slipstream space. The hybrid
Torres drive is dismantled, and it is doubtful QSD will be seen again.
Seven of Nine does mention in "Hope and Fear" [VOY] that the QSD is
similar in principle to the Borg's transwarp conduits (as opposed to
the Voth's transwarp drive), so research into one drive system might
yield clues about the other. A faked message from Starfleet claims the
ship made 65,000 light-years in three months, which might put the
velocity at 2,628,000 times the speed of light. Clearly, the quantum
slipstream drive is a candidate for "extra-galactic travel"
classification.
This is not warp, or a variation of warp drive. QSD appears to be
based on a totally different principle than warp, Seven's statement
notwithstanding. It is probable that due to the physics of QSD a ship
would have to be made from scratch specifically for quantum
slipstream. This is the difference between the species 116's Dauntless
and Voyager's mimicry. In "Hope and Fear" [VOY] and "Timeless" [VOY]
Commander Chakotay uses the phrase "alter our slipstream", implying
that slipstream space is not free and open, but must be transversed in
the form of grooves or pre-laid paths. This is seen as the cool blue
"vortex" effect of QSD ships, as opposed to the sparkly lights of warp
drive. Slipstreams appear to have only one setting: really, really,
really (ludicrous) speed.
You cannot "see" truespace while in slipstream. You must orient your
ship in the proper three-dimensional axis position, then activate the
drive and time how long you want to travel before dropping out. You do
not have to worry about local stars and gravity wells, since you are
not in truespace, unlike warp drive.
It seems that a M/AMR is not needed for QSD ships. At least, none was
seen in "Hope and Fear" [VOY].
It is possible to "fall" out of the slipstream, much as ships "fall"
out of warp when their warp layers collapse. (It seems every time the
ship does this it is a bad thing - helm control and shields are
offline due to quantum effects. Maybe species 116 overcame this side
effect?)
The theories from the [tech] newsgroup with the most weight are:
1. Slipstream is "between" subspace and truespace, or "below" normal
subspace and closer to the "untamed wilds" seen in "Force of
Nature" [TNG], but not at the alternate universes level. The
one-to-one mapping may hold true, but speed is faster. A quantum
energy field similar to a warp bubble is projected ahead of the
craft and into slipstream space. This field is continuously
generated by the craft to maintain the quantum slipstream, which
then pulls the craft along the path. Unlike the warp bubble, which
can be likened to a zero-dimensional subspace manifestation (when
seen from subspace, say), the slipstream field is a
one-dimensional (linear) manifestation of subspace. Stresses build
up because of the fluctuating nature of quantum-level energy,
"quantum cavitation". Warp drive is not used, the ship moves by
manipulating the quantum energy field and using their impulse
engines. You don't obey warp rules, you go around them.
Sources: alfreda@lonestar.jpl.utsa.edu;
inexorabletash@hotmail.com; 1ab@sec31.sgwu462.gov;
sbierce@hotmail.com
2. Slipstream is a special wormhole that tunnels into "slipstream
space", which is not subspace. You essentially make a wormhole
"mouth", enter the wormhole, and then hold open the "throat" while
you travel. The quantum stresses of forcing the "throat" to stay
expanded by energies from the main deflector dish and quantum
matrix are repulsed by truespace, which wants to collapse the
quantum field. This can shake the craft apart or force it to drop
out of slipstream, which makes the exit wormhole "mouth". You have
to fold space to make the wormhole, similar to the Cytherian-
inspired Barclay drive in "The Nth Degree" [TNG]. Warp drive is
not used, as this is an entirely different application of
wormhole/subspace physics.
Sources: Rick Sternbach, Senior Illustrator, Star Trek Voyager,
Paramount Pictures (with modifications using modern-day wormhole
math); sbierce@hotmail.com
3. Slipstream is a manufactured continuum, where the QSD increases
the energy state of the local truespace. Then using the
uncertainty of where a quanta is, combined with the Heisenberg
compensators, the ship instantly "jumps" a distance through a
giant application of quantum tunneling. A whole series of these
jumps occur near instantaneously for the slipstream effect of the
quantum drive. These jumps put quantum-level stresses on the
craft, and add to the randomness effect of the QSD, causing the
problems seen in the show.
Sources: tommy14@no.email.ads
While theory #3 is obviously an early guess, and theory #2 has one of
the ST:VOY team behind it, I myself prefer theory #1. With all respect
to Mr. Sternbach, Star Trek has really bad wormholes physics (compared
to modern-day cosmological math theories), and I'd like to avoid them
at all costs. If the Borg's transwarp conduits are really similar to
QSD as Seven stated, then theory #1 allows for decaying
one-dimensional transwarp tunnels more stable than quantum
slipstreams. It also explains why the Borg do not use QSD; transwarp
is superior in the fact that it creates stable short-term conduits
usable by other craft, cutting down on propulsion costs.
The necessary components for using QSD are:
* hull material necessary for withstanding the quantum-level
stresses of the slipstream (what, no force shields or structural
integrity fields to do this?)
* a quantum matrix to produce the quantum field layer of slipstream
space
* a proper emitter of the field (deflector array)
* sensors designed for slipstream space to adjust the field for
phase variant imbalances and prevent premature collapse
* some form of "braking" impulse drive to automatically hold your
position and attitude when exiting slipstream space
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