I'm trying to do some research on dilithium but there seems to be no concise history. I would like to know very first episode it was mentioned in. I think it was the The Alternative Factor but am not sure. Though I am pretty sure it was referred to as merely lithium in the earlier episodes Where No Man Has Gone Before and Mudd's Women. Also seeking opinions as to what would be the "key" or "best" episode to watch from each Star Trek series that dilithium played an important role? I'm very familiar with Star Trek IV (don't know how many times I've seen it) but no television episode of, say, TNG jumps out in my mind where dilithium was an important plot element. Or DS9, for that matter. Not evens sure if the station used dilithium... any help would be appreciated!
Dilithium
- Thread starter JeffO
- Start date
Elaan of Troyius prominently featured dilithium crystals. We saw that the crystals were the heart of the ship's power system, and learned that the shape of the crystal is important, but also that the need for dilithium was a major factor in interstellar politics and competition.
It has been my assumption that the tech Scotty figured out in Star Trek IV to regenerate the crystals is the reason why they didn't seem to worry about them in TNG and after: they didn't really need to actually replace them very much anymore.
He even gave Geordi a hard time about it in the 24th century until Geordi banned him from Engineering.
Or at least threatened to, I haven't seen the episode in years.
Or at least threatened to, I haven't seen the episode in years.
Basically, Scotty worried about the dilithium and was surprised that it was no longer a problem:
And LaForge succeeded in making Scotty leave in a huff. We didn't quite learn whether he also banned Scotty from trying to repeat or perpetuate his annoying meddling, though.
Timo Saloniemi
And LaForge succeeded in making Scotty leave in a huff. We didn't quite learn whether he also banned Scotty from trying to repeat or perpetuate his annoying meddling, though.
Timo Saloniemi
http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/episodes.htm
Start searching for the word "dilithium." It won't take very long and this may be your best option.
Start searching for the word "dilithium." It won't take very long and this may be your best option.
Scotty must have still been dazed from the long transport, like he was when he thought Kirk had come to get him, because there's no reason he shouldn't have been able to recognize a process that he himself had pioneered, otherwise.
(More sloppy writing aimed at the story the writers wanted to tell of an old outdated man still trying to find a way to be useful. It could have been a good story if the character had been someone else other than a member of the command crew of the 1701: by all rights, they should be famous throughout known space, and failing that, practically revered aboard the Ent-D, at any rate. These are people who saved the earth and the ENTIRE universe as we know it on *multiple* occasions.)
This may give you some interesting "crystallization" to your research. It was very interesting to me, but the Table on Page 4 might address some questions you may have.
http://www.minrec.org/pdfs/STAR TREK Article.pdf
http://www.minrec.org/pdfs/STAR TREK Article.pdf
Perhaps the way dilithium is recomposited took over a decade to prefect after Scott and Spock introduced the idea to get their captured Bird of Prey running again. Scott being use to a high radiation source being needed and no one in engineering was is radiation suits.
Maybe because the radioactive part was inside the shielded chamber? Or maybe because the radioactive material they used in 1987 was a poor joury-rigged substitute for something that would be safer and more efficient in the 23rd century?
Just the fact that he knows regenerating the crystal is possible at all makes it seem to me like he would have asked, rather than freaking out and assuming everyone stationed in engineering was completely incompetent.
I hope this Youtube video answers all your questions 
[YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hemM8rrx2Yw[/YT]
[YT]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hemM8rrx2Yw[/YT]
If the line of dialog is accurate, technically he did ask. It was his 'pestering old man' attitude while doing so that grated on Geordi's nerves.
I hope this Youtube video answers all your questions
Beat me to it!Why should a process be recognizable by looks? In the real world, processes seldom are: machinery doesn't scale up or down all that smoothly, and the difference between a prototype and its application a century later can be extreme.
He said an item needed immediate maintenance. He was told it happens in situ nowadays. Doesn't sound inconsistent in any way.
Timo Saloniemi
There is one question that never really has been answered. In some TOS episodes the technical discussion makes it as if the Dilithium crystals are used to provide an external power source that is used to "power" the warp core itself. As if it acts like a carberator.
From all of my Trek watching. Dylithium seems to be able to function two ways.
One, it seems transparent to streams of super-heated deuterium and anti-deuterium. When those steams meet inside a crystal in the warp core reaction chamber the crystal acts like a high energy capacitor. Moderating the reaction and directing the outputted warp plasma stream in specific directions. Thus keeping the reaction from blowing up the ship. Sending energy out in pulses.
Two, the matter/anti-matter reaction occurs outside of the crystals and when the warp plasma stream passes over or through a crystal. It generates a very high electrical output in the high megawatts range. Possibly gigawatts.
Of course it's never stated on screen exactly what warp plasma really is. Plasma is just highly energized gas. Warp plasma could just be extremely highly energized deuterium gas with gigawatts of energy surging through it. How big of a copper transmission cable would you need for a gigawatt?
One, it seems transparent to streams of super-heated deuterium and anti-deuterium. When those steams meet inside a crystal in the warp core reaction chamber the crystal acts like a high energy capacitor. Moderating the reaction and directing the outputted warp plasma stream in specific directions. Thus keeping the reaction from blowing up the ship. Sending energy out in pulses.
Two, the matter/anti-matter reaction occurs outside of the crystals and when the warp plasma stream passes over or through a crystal. It generates a very high electrical output in the high megawatts range. Possibly gigawatts.
Of course it's never stated on screen exactly what warp plasma really is. Plasma is just highly energized gas. Warp plasma could just be extremely highly energized deuterium gas with gigawatts of energy surging through it. How big of a copper transmission cable would you need for a gigawatt?
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