U.S.S. Voyager : Replicators : Page 2

As explained on page 1, replicators are based on transporter technology. They operate by using a phase-transition coil chamber in which a measured quantity of raw material is dematerialised in a manner similar to that of a standard transporter. But unlike a standard transporter, no molecular imaging scanners are used to derive analog pattern data of the original material. Instead, a sophisticated quantum geometry transformational matrix field modifies the matter stream to conform to a digitally stored molecular pattern matrix. The matter stream is then routed through a network of waveguide conduits that direct the signal to a replicator terminal at which the desired article is materialised within another phase transition chamber.

Neosorium composite is a material used in the construction of Federation replicators. As the Federation, as of 2371, is the only known user of neosorium technology it is, along with the presence of bioneural fibres, evidence that the damaged item on board a Kazon-Nistrim ship is of Federation origin. [#11 State of Flux] Unlike earlier starship classes, the Intrepid-class such as USS Voyager, the replication system's pattern buffers are composed of bioneural fibres which form part of the shipwide bioneural systems; bioneural circuitry greatly speeds up computer response time. To create a new data template, the object to be replicated is placed within the chamber and a series of molecular imaging scanners reads the quantum geometry of the material, using the same method as transporters. Most early Starfleet production-version replicators were not designed with imaging scanners, though a few were placed aboard each starship and starbase in order to enter new items into the database, and to break down used dishware for return to the general matter supply.

view through the back of the messhall's port-side wall-mounted replicator; the "gloop" spilled onto the inner workings contain macroviruses; the bioneural gel-pack has been infected, here is a healthy one [#54 Macrocosm]

Below: Janeway orders from the replicator in her captain's ready room.[#118 Relativity]

the replicator	Janeway orders "coffee, black"
the replicator materialises the coffee, in a mug	Janeway turns, holding the mug of coffee

As with all transporter-based replication systems, the food replicators operate at molecular resolution. Because of this, there are significant numbers of single-bit errors in the resulting replicated materials. These errors are not nutritionally significant (but certain types of Altarian spices have shown a tendency to become mildly toxic when replicated, so their use is avoided in replicated dishes [TNG: ?]).

Replicator operation generates nucleonic radiation [#11 State of Flux], although Federation replicators have a thick enough interior shield casing to prevent user exposure to such hazardous energy. Nucleonic radiation leaks are discussed below.

What someone replicates is automatically logged: in [#88 Vis à Vis] Janeway tells Paris (who is actually a DNA-thief who has stolen Paris' identity) that he replicated five alcoholic beverages the previous night. Apart from meaning that someone authorised to examine those logs can check if people are following sensible diets (or are secretly addicted to chocolate or alcohol, say), this would enable an inventory of replicated supplies to be made or verified, together with checks on power consumption.

a feast for two from the Delta Flyer's replicator [#153 Body and Soul]

In addition, as to be expected, the replicator also replicates a suitable dish or container for the replicated substance, such as a mug for coffee or serving dishes.

Trakian ale served in a glass with a pattern [#88 Vis à Vis]

For a Federation starship, where storage space is limited, the use of replicators dramatically reduces the requirement for carrying and storing both foodstuffs and spare parts. The limiting factor is the energy cost of molecular synthesis versus the cost of carrying an object on board the ship. In the case of foodstuffs, the cost of maintaining a large volume of perishable supplies becomes prohibitive, especially when the cost of food preparation is included. Here, the energy cost of molecular synthesis is justified, especially when one considers the dramatic mass savings involved with extensive recycling of organic material.

However, certain types of commonly used spare parts and supplies are not economical for replication. In such cases, the items in question are used in sufficient quantity that it is more economical to store finished products than to spend the energy to carry raw materials and synthesise the finished product on demand. Additionally, significant stores of critical spares and consumables are maintained for possible use during Alert situations when power for replication systems may be severely restricted or unavailable - these items may themselves have been replicated earlier. Replicating items in anticipation of use is a commonsense approach to the Starfleet dictum that at all times a minimum number of auxiliary craft (shuttlecraft) must be ready for use (the number for USS Voyager is unknown, but for the larger Galaxy-class starship the minimum is eleven).

To minimize replicator power requirements, raw stock for food replicators is stored in the form of a sterilised organic particulate suspension that has been formulated to statistically require the least quantum manipulation to replicate most finished foodstuffs.

The main limitation of all transporter-based replicators is the resolution at which the molecular matrix patterns are stored. While transporters (which operate in real-time) re- create objects at quantum-level resolution suitable for lifeforms, replicators store and re-create objects at the much simpler molecular-level resolution, which is not suitable for living beings.

Because of the massive amount of computer memory required to store even the simplest object, it is impossible to record each molecule individually. Instead, extensive data compression and averaging techniques are used. Such techniques reduce memory storage required for molecular patterns by factors approaching 2.7 x 10⁹. The resulting single-bit inaccuracies do not significantly impact the quality of most reproduced objects, but preclude the use of replicator technology to re-create iiving objects. Single-bit molecular errors could have severely detrimental effects on living DNA molecules and neural activity. Cumulative effects have been shown to closely resemble radiation-induced damage.

Data is also subject to significant accuracy limits. It is not feasible to record or store quantum electron-state information, nor can Brownian motion data be accurately re-created. Doing so would represent another billion-fold increase in the memory required to store a given pattern. This means that even if each atom of every molecule were reproduced, it is not feasible to accurately re-create the electron shell activity patterns or the atomic motions that deter mine the dynamics of the biochemical activity of consciousness and thought.

USS Voyager's unusual circumstance of being stranded in the Delta Quadrant is shared by only one other Starfleet vessel, namely USS Equinox [#120 and #121 Equinox]. Cut off from Federation resources and not knowing when or where the next supplies are going to come from, on Voyager, soon after being carried there by the Caretaker's displacement wave, economy measures were implemented to conserve the limited supply of power available on board. On stardate 48532, Torres started to convert the auxiliary impulse reactor into a crude dilithium refinery to process raw dilithium, which was expected to be discovered on a planetoid at that time [#5 Phage]. But by then Kes had taken charge of the airponics bay (formerly a cargo bay) so that food could be grown [#3 Parallax]. Vacuum-packed rations were in use too: in [#5 Phage] Janeway tells Chakotay that for breakfast she plans to have ration pack 5 - stewed tomatoes with dehydrated eggs. Then on stardate 48532 Neelix converted the captain's private cabin into a galley where he started to prepare food for the crew [#5 Phage].

Janeway: "So, has Neelix concocted anything interesting this morning?"
Kim: "There's an ancient Chinese curse, 'May you live in interesting times'. Mealtime is always interesting now that Neelix is in the kitchen."
Janeway: "We shouldn't judge him too harshly. He is helping us conserve replicator energy."
Paris: "And I'm sure the gastro-intestinal problems will go away as soon as our systems get used to his er...'gourmet' touch."
[#6 The Cloud]

Replicator ration credits were issued to each crewmember [#6 The Cloud]. It is common for replicator rations to be used as a form of currency/barter, and Tom Paris set up a gambling ring among the crew attending Chez Sandrine's who bet with replicator credits trying to, as Paris put it, "Just predict what the radiogemic particle count will be at 1200 hours tomorrow and if you hit the pot is yours, minus a small handling fee for the bank of course." [#32 Meld] Kim tells Paris that he ate Neelix's food for a week to save up his replicator rations in order to replicate a clarinet [#23 Parturition]. In [The Cloud], Neelix tells Janeway to set a good example to the crew by not using a replicator ration to make coffee and pours her his "even better than coffee" substitute, but Janeway is unimpressed when Neelix "pours" the gloop into her mug.

[#11 State of Flux]

Neelix obtains his ingredients by trading with friendly peoples that Voyager encounters and by collecting them himself. In the screenshot left, in 2371, Neelix and an away team prepare to beam back to the ship after collecting foodstuffs on a planet, including leola root [#11 State of Flux]. In 2374, stardate 51762, Neelix gathered food samples on the fourth planet of the Kendran system [#88 Vis à Vis]. Neelix stores food, either in refrigeration units and/or in stasis. He uses storage bay 3 as a pantry. In [#44 Flashback], Janeway wants to convert it into a containment chamber for the sirillium they plan to collect from a type-17 nebula using the warp nacelles' Bussard collectors.