41

When a ship is under attack, the shields wear down over the course of the attack.

What is the mechanism behind this? Aren't the shields powered using energy? While the ship has energy, shouldn't it be able to indefinitely defend against attacks the shield can absorb?

3
  • 3
    An excellent question. Not something I've considered before.
    – Valorum
    Jan 18, 2015 at 16:02
  • I was actually just watching Star Trek 2009 and was wondering the same thing. Aren't the shields powered by the warp core, which is able to provide the tremendous energy required both for a warp field and shields? As long as the ship has fuel, should it not be able to replenish the energy field?
    – user31563
    Jan 19, 2015 at 1:46
  • To have tension. Also then all enemy ships would have the same rules applied.
    – kleineg
    Jun 9, 2015 at 12:26

1 Answer 1

24

According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual (by Okuda / Sternbach), Section 11.8, pg. 138 ("Deflector Shields"):

Like most forcefield devices, the deflector system creates a localized zone of highly focused spatial distortion within which an energetic graviton field is maintained. The deflector field itself is emitted and shaped by a series of conformal transmission grids on the spacecraft exterior, resulting in a field that closely follows the form of the vehicle itself. This field is highly resistive to impact due to mechanical incursions ranging from relativistic subatomic particles to more massive objects at lesser relative velocities. When such an intrusion occurs, field energy is concentrated at the point of impact, creating an intense, localized spatial distortion.

This zone of spatial distortion around a ship is created by the so-often-mentioned shield generators:

The deflector system utilizes one or more graviton polarity source generators whose output is phase-synchronized through a series of subspace field distortion amplifiers.... Heat dissipation on each generator is provided by a pair of liquid helium coolant loops with a continuous-duty rating of 750,000 MJ. Four backup generators are located in each hull, providing up to twenty-four hours of service at 65% of nominal rated power.

It is clear then that several things may go wrong when an "intrusion" through the shields is attempted. First of all, the distortion of space around the ship (what we call "shields") is designed to adjust itself rapidly from a diffuse state to a localized one, to provide maximum resistive force at the target site of the intrusion. This is an enormous drain on energy supplies. Volleys lobbed at disparate points in a short time would cause the biggest drain of this kind.

Secondly, the shield generators produce considerable amounts of heat, which need to be dissipated. This heat output increases when the shields localize. If the generator coolant loop fails on a particular generator, that generator must be taken off-line until diagnostics and repairs can be carried out, further compromising the integrity of the shields.

In short, stressed deflector shields cannot function "indefinitely".

What does it really mean to suggest that the shields can continue to function "indefinitely" because they can absorb energy? There is no reasonable or efficient way to transfer this energy back into the shield generators. The shield generators are located at precise points along the ship. When the shields absorb energy, this energy is dissipated in various forms, e.g. mechanically (by disturbing the shape of the field generated by the shields and/or the position of the ship) and as light and heat. There is no way to direct this energy coherently back into the shield generators, or into any collection point along the hull, I'm afraid.

Note: The Technical Manual is (almost entirely) canon. Okuda and Sternbach were designers and technical consultants on TNG, and the introduction for the manual was written by Roddenberry himself.

33
  • 2
    Good answer, but on the second-to-last paragraph about absorbing energy, I think you may have misunderstood what the person was asking. The question doesn't say anything about absorbing energy from attacks, I think "attacks the shield can absorb" just means attacks that wouldn't break through a shield at full strength, and "While the ship has energy" refers to the power systems that supply energy to warp/phasers/life support etc., asking why these systems can't continually recharge the shield (the shield generators overheating and needing repair seems like the most plausible answer).
    – Hypnosifl
    Jan 18, 2015 at 20:55
  • 1
    @Hypnosifl: Also, in my second quotation block from the Technical Manual, there is a passage regarding back-up shield generators --- see above. A heavy barrage might do away with them as quickly as the primary generators.
    – Praxis
    Jan 18, 2015 at 21:16
  • 1
    I would add that the shields can handle some kinds of energy indefinitely. It is the attacks that require the shields to "overdrive" that cause heat and damage to the shield hardware. Witness the episodes where they fly close to a star. At the right range they can do that forever. There is also an episode where they are attacked by more primitive ships using lasers. They take no shield damage and could sit there and take it forever.
    – Zan Lynx
    Jan 18, 2015 at 22:18
  • 2
    Got it.. At the end all the energy absorbed needs to be dissipated, so its basically limited by energy dissipation capacity...
    – Akash
    Jan 19, 2015 at 5:40
  • 3
    @geewhiz : The graphic on Reliant's console when the shields go up might be purely symbolic. Anyway, there are too many "takes" on what shields can or cannot do, depending on which episodes or films you consult. That's why I just went straight to the manual.
    – Praxis
    Jan 21, 2015 at 17:38

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.