Deflector Dish Capabilities

[Trinoya]

I figured why not analyze the true capabilities of the deflector dish and why something able to push and move objects out of the way when moving at FTL speeds has trouble with things when the ship is operating on STL propulsion.

I propose the warpfield to be the cause. This subspace field has the effect of reducing the inertial mass of objects within it, and as we saw in Divergence, objects that pass through the warpfield do not suddenly explode into brilliant light even though their atoms should have been strewn across space in a nice Christmas like show.

We also know that an inverse graviton pulse can disrupt a warpfield effectively...

We have from ENT: Coldfront in regards to the "gravimetric field displacement manifold."

And my personal favorite: We have subspace compression which occurs potentially at the edge of a warpfield when an object isn't entirely encompassed.


I propose that as objects get closer to the ship those things that could be acted on by the navigational deflector through small gravity manipulation are moved out of the way as we would presume they would be. Small rocks and space dust.

For larger objects, however, the warpfield must first encompass them. The navigational deflector can then either hold them half way in the field (destroying them via subspace compression) or they will be affected like the ship, and be much more easily pushed out of the way, ala the moon in Deja Q.

Since we know the deflectors are not a magical end all be all to stop everything from plasma, dust, gas, small rocks, space life forms, solar flares, mines, and even the occasional unguided torpedo when someone is at STL speeds... but we know for a fact it has to be capable of moving these things out of the way when at FTL speeds, the primary difference should be the warp field...

Otherwise we have some very unusual moments where the deflector dish could have been used to even destroy enemy craft (such as Nazi Fighters) if they so much as looked at it the wrong way.


Second point: What this does mean is the response time and control of the deflector dish has to be absolutely spectacular when warping through a solar system (or even just a cluttered section of space), perhaps this is part of the worry about going to warp in system.

Granted, just a theory atm. I will do some more research on the topic.

[Lucky]

I figured why not analyze the true capabilities of the deflector dish and why something able to push and move objects out of the way when moving at FTL speeds has trouble with things when the ship is operating on STL propulsion.

I propose the warpfield to be the cause. This subspace field has the effect of reducing the inertial mass of objects within it, and as we saw in Divergence, objects that pass through the warpfield do not suddenly explode into brilliant light even though their atoms should have been strewn across space in a nice Christmas like show.

Then how would the Navi-dflector be able to protect the ship while not at warp like we are told it does

We also know that an inverse graviton pulse can disrupt a warpfield effectively...

We have from ENT: Coldfront in regards to the "gravimetric field displacement manifold."

And my personal favorite: We have subspace compression which occurs potentially at the edge of a warpfield when an object isn't entirely encompassed.

Of course you use gravity to warp space-time. It's only logical that a drive that works by manipulating gravity would be sensitive to gravity manipulation by out side source.

I propose that as objects get closer to the ship those things that could be acted on by the navigational deflector through small gravity manipulation are moved out of the way as we would presume they would be. Small rocks and space dust.

I propose that as objects get closer to the ship those things that could be acted on by the navigational deflector through small gravity manipulation are moved out of the way as we would presume they would be. Small rocks and space dust.

For larger objects, however, the warpfield must first encompass them. The navigational deflector can then either hold them half way in the field (destroying them via subspace compression) or they will be affected like the ship, and be much more easily pushed out of the way, ala the moon in Deja Q.

The Nav-deflector works when not at warp. Heck non-warp capable ships have nav-deflectors.
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Titan%27s_Turn
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Jovian_Run

Since we know the deflectors are not a magical end all be all to stop everything from plasma, dust, gas, small rocks, space life forms, solar flares, mines, and even the occasional unguided torpedo when someone is at STL speeds... but we know for a fact it has to be capable of moving these things out of the way when at FTL speeds, the primary difference should be the warp field...

Otherwise we have some very unusual moments where the deflector dish could have been used to even destroy enemy craft (such as Nazi Fighters) if they so much as looked at it the wrong way.

You need to be more specific.

What episodes?

Quantify the creature, and other stuff.

Mines would be by design made to get close to ships without being noticed.

We don't know what upgrades those fighters had do we?

Second point: What this does mean is the response time and control of the deflector dish has to be absolutely spectacular when warping through a solar system (or even just a cluttered section of space), perhaps this is part of the worry about going to warp in system.

http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Titan%27s_Turn
http://memory-alpha.org/wiki/Jovian_Run

There are lots of reasons you would want to be very careful moving very fast in heavily trafficked areas.
_____
How do you explain the nav-deflector firing Disruptive Nuclear Effect beams?

[Mike DiCenso]

While there is no mention of using nav deflectors in "Chain of Command, Part 2", there is this much:

JELLICO: Then you must've done Titan's Turn.

LAFORGE: Oh, yeah. You set a course directly for Titan, hold it until you're just brushing the atmosphere, throw the helm hard over and whip around the moon at point seven c.

A 70 percent of the speed of light? Yikes! That would require some pretty damn good deflector shielding, if not a really good nav deflector given the relatively large density of atmospheric particles a shuttle would be encountering and plowing up in front of it at those speeds.
-Mike

[Who is like God arbour]

There is a scene in VOY Year of Hell: A huge micro-meteoroid shower hits the crippled Voyager. Thousands of the microscopic rocks pelt her ruined hull, rapidly destroying what little is left. On the bridge, Janeway, amidst the clanging and clattering of the meteroid shower hitting the hull, asks Torres if engines are available yet, to get them out of the shower's way. Torres answers that they are not and Kim reminds Janeway their navigational deflector is nonfunctional. She orders Tuvok to divert emergency power to it but is subsequently informed that the ship lost emergency power long ago.

• • • • 
        
        • • • • A micro-meteoroid shower...
        • • • • 
                • • [list][list]...hits Voyager.

[/list][/list]



Janeway makes a decision. She rises from her command chair and announces she is heading for Deflector Control. Tuvok warns her that the area is far too hazardous but she still goes. When she opens the door she sees that there is a raging fire inside, so hot that she recoils against the opposite wall with a gasp. But she is determined to fix the deflector. Kim reports that the damage from the micro-meteoroid shower is growing rapidly.

Janeway orders Tuvok to prepare to engage the shields. She also tells him to inform The Doctor she will be coming back with severe burns. Tuvok objects but she sternly repeats her order. Then, steeling herself, she charges into the inferno.

On the bridge, Kim reports that deflector shields have come online. Tuvok immediately raises them. The sound of the micro-meteoroids hitting the hull stops immediately. Tuvok hails Janeway, but she does not respond. Torres and Kim look blankly ahead in horror.

• • • • [Bridge]
        

        • JANEWAY:
          • Engines.
          TORRES:
          • I'm doing my best.
          KIM:
          • Captain, with the deflector down those micro-meteoroids are beginning to erode the hull.
          JANEWAY:
          • Emergency power to the deflector.
          TUVOK:
          • None available.
          JANEWAY:
          • I'll be in Deflector control.
          TUVOK:
          • Captain. That entire section has been designated hazard level four.
          JANEWAY:
          • I know.

        [Outside Deflector Control]
        

        • JANEWAY:
          • Oh, why do I get the feeling you're testing me, Voyager? Bridge, there's a fire in Deflector control. Any luck with the engines?

        [Bridge]
        

        • TORRES:
          • The warp core's still offline.
          KIM:
          • Micro-meteoroid density

        [Outside Deflector Control]
        

        • KIM [OC]:
          • is increasing. The nacelle pylon is buckling.
          JANEWAY:
          • Bridge, I'm going in. Stand by to engage the Deflector. Tell the Doctor I'll be coming back with severe burns.

        [Bridge]
        

        • TUVOK:
          • Captain.

        [Outside Deflector Control]
        

        • JANEWAY:
          • Do it. Be kind.

        [Bridge]
        

        • KIM:
          • The Captain's accessed manual control. She's stabilising the particle emitters. She's got it! Deflectors on-line!
          TUVOK:
          • Activating deflector field. Bridge to Janeway. Captain, please respond.

Warp-core offline
Deflector online

[Praeothmin]

Not really, WILGA, if you re-read your own post, you'll see Janeway's re-activated the Deflectors while the core was still offline, so while it may normally run off the Warp Core's power, it is not essential for Deflectors...

[Who is like God arbour]

Hello? I wrote:

• Warp-core offline
  Deflector online

That means that he deflector does not depend on the warp-core or FTL travel. It usually does works also when the ship is sitting around and is doing nothing.

So, what's your argument?

[Praeothmin]

Ah, I thought you wrote it that way as a matter of cause and effect...