Plasma

Plasma is a state of matter. To be more exact, plasma is an ionized gaseous state, which is commonly seen in an electrical arc.

Typically, warp drive capable civilizations use super-energized "electro-plasma" in their power transfer systems, EPS for short. The electro-plasma is used as both warp plasma for the engines and also converted into standard electrical energy when fed off an EPS tap. Federation EPSs are designed around matter-antimatter reaction assemblies (usually warp cores) or fusion reactors. Besides the large warp plasma power transfer conduits, small amounts of plasma are sent through the EPS system, which converts the plasma into the electricity used by the various systems on a starship or space station.

If an EPS conduit or EPS tap becomes ruptured, the contents could set off a plasma fire.

Matter in the plasma phase can reach temperatures of over 3 million Kelvin and cannot be contained in conventional containers; instead it has to be contained using magnetic force fields such as those in a plasma canister or plasma infuser, and transferred through magnetic conduits such as the EPS conduits found in a starship or outpost's power transfer grid.

Plasma may be stored in plasma canisters or plasma infusers for mobile use, and is used in plasma torches and plasma weapons (such as plasma charges, plasma waves, plasma rifles and plasma torpedoes). It may also be found naturally occurring, such as the energetic anomalies found in plasma storms and plasma fields.