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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!vax135!petsd!moncol!john
From: john@moncol.UUCP (John Ruschmeyer)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Dilithium
Message-ID: <143@moncol.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 27-Dec-84 15:16:48 EST
Article-I.D.: moncol.143
Posted: Thu Dec 27 15:16:48 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 29-Dec-84 02:44:10 EST
References: <1@decwrl.UUCP> <1271@hplabs.UUCP> <510@ncoast.UUCP>, <2085@uw-june>
Organization: Monmouth College, Long Branch, NJ
Lines: 31

>From: edtking@uw-june (Ewan David Tempero)
>Message-ID: <2085@uw-june>
>Date: Wed, 26-Dec-84 20:27:27 EST
>
>                       I remember Kirk and Spock getting some sort of
>implants with dilithium that were to be used for tracing them ( Kirk and
>Spock, not the implants ). When imprisoned ( I think it was the one with
>the Nazi like development ) they dug them out ( don't ask me how ) and used
>them to turn an electric current from a light socket into a laser-like beam
>which they then used to burn their way out. 

Actually those were Rubindium crystals. Spock used them to focus the
light from a bulb into a crude laser.

As already posted (sorry I don't have the reference), dilithium
crystals are used to focus the energy of the matter/anti-matter
reaction. This use of them is mentioned in John M. Ford's novel _The
Final Reflection_. Pre-dilithium warp engines were capable of a
maximum speed of about warp 4.

Dilithium crystals do, however, seem to put out some power of their
own. Otheriwse, how would Spock have discovered the Dohlman's (sp?)
necklace in "Elaan of Troyus"?


-- 
	John Ruschmeyer		...!vax135!petsd!moncol!john
	Monmouth College
	W. Long Branch, NJ 07764

"The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."