Particle

## Antigraviton

Elemental particle that carries a charge and spin opposite to that of gravitons. Antigraviton particles are generated in a standard tractor beam. Antigravitons are produced by certain alien technologies, and can be used to interfere with transporter beams.

## Anyon

Anyons are particles which can be used to counter Chronitons.

## Baryon

Class of the heaviest particles. Include neutrons, protons and the heavier, unstable hyperons: the lambda, sigma, xi, and omega particles. The antiparticles of this class are termed antibaryons. Baryons consist of three quarks and interact through the strong force, which holds atomic nuclei together. The law of conservation of baryons states that for any interaction of elementary particles, the sum of baryon numbers remains unchanged. Federation starships must periodically undergo "Baryon Sweeps" at facilities such as the Remmler Array to clear them of contamination.

## Graviton

The particle responsible for the gravitational force which exists between all masses in our universe. Gravitons can be artificially generated by Federation starships, and have various uses. Heavy gravitons can be highly destructive. Graviton waves have a relationship with a starship's shield system. Some artificial gravity systems operate by creating gravitons.

## Ionogenic Particle

Ionogenic particles can be used to contain certain forms of energy.

## Lepton

A class of particles that do not interact by the strong nuclear force. They are electrically neutral or have unit charge, and are fermions. Leptons appear not to have any internal structure. The electron, the muon, the tau, and the three kinds of neutrino are all Leptons. Although all leptons are relatively light, they are not alike. The electron, for example, carries a negative charge, and is stable, meaning it does not decay into other elementary particles; the muon also has a negative charge, but has a mass about 200 times greater than that of an electron and decays into smaller particles. Leptons interact with other particles through the weak force (the force that governs radioactive decay), the electromagnetic force, and the gravitational force. Wormholes can emit Leptons prior to opening or changing position.

## Magneton

Historically, the magneton is a unit used to measure of the magnetic dipole moment of a particle. In modern physics the term refers to a specific particle which can be used by sensor systems.

## Meson

Any of a class of particles believed to participate in the forces that hold nucleons together in the atomic nucleus. Like Leptons, Mesons can be associated with wormhole activity.

## Metreon

Particle which can take the form of both radiation and gas. Metreon particles have been demonstrated to react with dark matter, and even to have temporal properties. In their gaseous form, metreon particles are extremely volatile, and are easily ignited via weapons fire. This in part allows the "Metreon Cascade" to function.

## Muon

An unstable particle similar to an electron, but with a much greater mass. Muons are part of the Lepton family. A build up of Muons in a Federation warp core can result in a massive explosion if the ship enters warp. This is especially dangerous as the build up is very difficult to detect.

## Nadion

A particle used by Federation phaser weapons.

## Neutrino

A particle which has no charge and very small mass. Neutrinos are famous for their ability to pass through large amounts of matter. Despite this, by the 24th century neutrino detectors have become very compact and efficient, allowing these particles to be used in distress beacons. Neutrinos are associated with the opening and closing of the Bajoran wormhole. Neutrinos could also be used to destroy space-faring bacteria.

The antineutrino is the antimatter equivalent of the neutrino. These can be highly harmful to Federation warp cores.

## Neutron

Neutrons are one of the particles which make up atomic nuclei. They have a mass of approximately 1 u, and zero charge. Neutrons not contained within a nucleus are unstable, decaying with a half life of approximately 17 minutes. Isotopes differ from the standard form of an element by having more or less neutrons in their nucleus, altering the mass of the atom but leaving its chemical properties unchanged.

Antineutrons have the same mass, spin, and rate of decay as the normal particle. They are sometimes produced in the collisions of antiprotons with protons, and they possess a magnetic moment equal and opposite to that of the neutron. Certain configurations of gravity fields allow antineutrons to pass through whilst stopping antigravitons.

## Nucleonic Particle

Nucleonic particles are associated with certain forms of communications technology.

## Omega

A molecule believed by many to have the potential to be the ultimate energy source. Even a single molecule can produce more energy than a Federation warp core, and some scientists believe that Omega molecules may have been the energy source behind the Big Bang which created the universe. Omega molecules are highly unstable and their decay can cause damage to subspace over large areas, rendering the use of warp drive impossible. The Federation regards the use of Omega molecules to be a serious threat to interstellar travel throughout the galaxy, and Starship Captains are authorized to use any and all means to destroy the molecules wherever they are found - an order which supersedes even the prime directive.

## Omicron

A possible alternative power source for Federation starships. Omicron particles are also associated with some forms of holographic technology.

## Photon

A quantum of electromagnetic radiation. The wave and particle behaviour displayed by photons led to the development of quantum theory on Earth.

## Polaron

Polarons are a particle associated with some forms of scanning and communications systems. They can be used to detect camouflaged vessels, or to scan time streams. The Dominion uses phased polaron weapons, as these are very effective at penetrating shield systems. Modern Federation and allied shield systems have been altered so as to resist phased polaron weapons much more effectively.

## Positron

The Positron is the antiparticle of the electron, one of the particles which make up atoms. 20th century science fiction writer Isaac Asimov used positronic brains in his robot stories; centuries later Dr. Soong made this a reality when he developed Positronic technology for the neural nets of his androids, including Lore and Data. This technology is not yet widespread, but positronic systems can be used to keep the brain of an injured person functioning. Positrons can also be used by scanning systems against objects which are particularly difficult to penetrate with normal scans.

## Proton

Along with neutrons, protons make up the nuclei of atoms. Antiprotons have many applications in scanning systems. The Dominion uses antiproton beams to penetrate cloaking devices. Antiprotons can also be used in medical applications.

## Tachyon

Class of particles which travel at greater than the speed of light. Active tachyon beams can be used to detect cloaked Romulan vessels. Naturally occurring tachyon eddies are believed to have assisted ancient Bajoran lightsail vessels in crossing interstellar distances. Inverse tachyon beams can have a harmful effect on the space time continuum.

## Terracon Particle

Terracon particles are used by archaeologists, as their decay profiles can allow the authenticity of ancient artefacts to be determined.

## Tetryon

Tetryons are elementary particles which can only exist for any length of time in subspace, being unstable in normal space. Tetryons can be damaging to equipment, and have been used on occasion to disable phaser weapons. A Tetryon compositor is part of at least some Romulan cloaking devices, and these particles are sometimes radiated by cloaked Warbirds. Coherent Tetryon beams can be used to scan over galactic distances.

## Vetereon

Verterons are highly damaging to subspace equipment. Verteron emanations are also associated with wormholes

## Warp Particle

Any of several particles emitted by an active warp drive. Warp particles can leave a detectable signature behind, even enabling specific vessels to be identified.

## Z Particle

Z particles are one of the carriers of the weak nuclear force. They are emitted by vessels, especially those using relatively poor versions of cloaking technology.