9.1 Transporter Systems Operation

Transporter operations can be broken into five major stages. Because of the criticality of this system, normal operating rules require a transporter officer to supervise and monitor system operation.(Note: This section describes a beam-down. The beam up sequence is very similar, although different in the initial stage.)

-Target Scan and coordinate lock-

During this initial step, the destination coordinates are programmed into the transporter system. Targeting scanners, mostly electromagnetic in nature, verify range and relative motion, as well as confirming environmental conditions. These provide baselines for the computer algorithms and set up for stage two.

-Energize and dematerialize-

Nuclear-level imaging scanners derive a real-time quantum-resolution pattern image of the transport subject while the primary energizing coils are what being the process. These form a containment field around each subject ensuring pattern integrity, and also project the SPI field, which maintains the beam. The dual-stage phase transition coils rest above and below the object. They convert it into a subatomically debonded particle stream. At this point the particles that make up the object are given a specific quantum polarization that does not stay with it once cohesion is restored. In essence, it becomes a phased beam, capable of penetrating more disruptive environs.

-Pattern Buffer Doppler compensation-

The matter stream is briefly held in the pattern buffer, which allows the system to compensate for the Doppler shift between the ship and the transport definition. The pattern buffer also acts as a safety device in case of system malfunction, permitting transport to be aborted to another chamber.

-Matter Stream Transmission-

The actual point of departure from the ship is one of seventeen emitter pad arrays that transmit the matter stream within an annular confinement beam to the transport destination.