Annular Confinement Beam

The Annular Confinement Beam controls the scanning and dematerialization of the transporter process. It confines the transporter matter stream when it is on its way to the target destination. It also makes it possible to transport objects and persons at warp, although the velocities of both vessel and target must be identical.

The annular confinement beam is a spatial matrix created by the primary energizing coils of a transporter system.

When deflector shields are active, this beam cannot penetrate the shield envelope, making transport almost impossible, except through the expert use of sensor windows.

Although transporter systems are designed to beam a subject to or from a destination intact, it is possible to override the safety systems on a standard Star Fleet transporter, and cause it to deliberately disperse the subject over a wide area. This is done by disengaging the annular confinement beam during rematerialization, depriving the subject of a proper reference matrix to form against. Such a measure may be used in order to neutralize a dangerous payload such as a bomb or other weapon; the measure is frequently complemented by materializing the subject in space.

In the event of a failure or malfunction, the object in transport will suffer pattern degradation, causing severe injury and even death in the case of living creatures.

The transport subject can intentionally breach the confinement beam during the initial stages of transport, if their body contains certain material compounds.

• However, doing so results in a massive energy discharge as the beam fails, and can be lethal.