TechMemo:Shields
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Star Fleet Engineering
Bureau of Starship and Starcraft Technology
Star Fleet Engineering
Technical Memorandum
Stardate: 80128 (28 January 1996), revised 170318 (18 March 2005)
RE: Deflector Shields
The deflector systems of most starships consist of a series of phase-synchronized graviton polarity generators. A series of subspace distortion amplifiers form a "bubble" or "cocoon" around the ship which diffuses the energy from direct energy weapons like phasers and deadens impact, disrupts tracking, and absorbs explosive damage for missile weapons like photon torpedoes. Heat dissipation for each graviton generator is provided by a primary and backup liquid hydrogen coolant loop.
The primary purpose of shielding is to prevent contact of incident electromagnetic radiation or particle beams with the hull.
The shielding effect consists of a series of layers. The outermost layer does not actually shield the ship from damage, rather it is a sensor scattering layer that prevents a ship firing on a shielded target from determining information about the shields which would allow it to adjust for, and effectively bypass, the shielding effect. Importantly, this layer also interferes with the precise lock of targeting sensors and may actually prevent the ship from being hit at all due to slight errors in beam tracking caused by its distorting effects.
The next layer of shielding is a refractive layer. By adjusting the local speed of light, the gravitational distortions warp incoming beam weapons so as to deflect their path away from the hull of the ship. This layer can also deflect the path of radiation incident from missile or torpedo detonations. This layer cannot actually deflect beams fired perpendicular to the hull, so it works in concert with a series of gravitational lenses which are angled to the hull of the ship and which are intended to bend beams directed straight towards the hull harmlessly into space.
The final layer of shielding is a diffusive layer. Any incident electromagnetic radiation which could not be bent clear of the hull is spread out much as a flash diffuser on a camera works to spread visible light to illuminate an object. This means that the electromagnetic flux is reduced by increasing the area of the hull over which the radiation is spread. This acts to allow hull plating to deal with the incident energy more easily.
It should be noted that the computer adjusts shielding automatically through a semi-random pattern so that a targeting computer cannot detect a pattern to the distortion of incoming fire and adjust for it.
Shields "lose power" because the graviton polarity generators are stressed adjusting the distortions that they create rapidly to account for information about incoming fire transmitted by the outermost shielding layers. As they are stressed, they coolant temperature rises and the superconductors are less efficient until the coolant loop can dissipate the generated heat and cool the coils within the generators.
Star Fleet Engineering categorized systems numerically from 1 to 12 based on maximum continuous and peak output ratings, maximum cooling rate, and backup system capacity. Although no two ships truly have identical shielding systems, comparable systems are given the same rating. Further, a deflector shield system is classified as c, standard cocoon, or e, enhanced cocoon. An enhanced cocoon system has similar output to the equivalent numbered standard system, but with better backup systems and/or better heat dissipation and endurance.
Normally, a battleship or battle cruiser will have class 12-rated shields. A heavy cruiser may have class 10 or 11 deflectors. Class 9 and 10 shields are usually employed by light cruisers. A small light cruiser or large destroyer will likely employ class 8 shields. Most destroyers, however, will use class 7 shields. Small ships, including frigates and corvettes will typically have class 6 or lower rated shields.
