Plasma Dissipation Shielding

From TFC Galactopedia

Side view of a ship utilizing this form of shielding.

Plasma Dissipation Shielding is a relatively new development in StarFleet shield technology, becoming the fleet standard for defense field operation in 2373. They were developed in response to data gathered at the Federation's first skirmish with the Galactic Empire in the Imatia system in 2372. StarFleet weapons engineers learned from this battle that the Imperial weapon of choice, the turbolaser, was capable of delivering large amounts of destructive energy in a small jacketed bolt of plasma, which, upon impact, would put an abnormally high strain on shields in a concentrated area, making it more difficult for StarFleet ships to maintain shield integrity in a battle situation. The plasma dissipation shield is little more than an electromagnetic "cushion," projected about three meters from the surface of a ship's normal defense shield bubble. The cushion disrupts the electromagnetic containment beam of incoming turbolaser bolts, causing the weapons to disperse just before impact. This dispersion spreads the free turbolaser plasma over a large surface area of the shield, allowing all or most of the shield generators of a starship to work in concert to counteract the damaging effects of the weapon.

This item, object, or technology originated on the Star Trek side of the Rift.