STARFLEET DATABASE FILE: Warp Engines

Warp drive is a method of travelling faster than the speed of light. It was first devised, and subsequently constructed by, Dr Zefram Cochrane in the 21st Century. The first succesful test flight took place on March 6, 2063. 

Federation technology utilizes warp drive engines to move at speeds greater than the speed of light . The warp drive is based on CDP (Continuum Distortion Propulsion). CDP engines essentially distort the space around the ship , allowing it to move at speeds greater than light (This distortion does not separate the ship from space, hence the passing stars). This is analogous to moving a bowling ball on a rubber sheet by bending the sheet. 

Warp is powered by a violent matter:antimatter reaction. This power is regulated by the Dilithium crystals (they are the only known material to Federation science which is transparent to antimatter when subjected to a high-frequency electro-magnetic field), so that the reaction occurs within certain bounds. This energy is then fed to the warp coils, in a carefully predefined sequence, from fore to aft. They energize in this pattern more rapidly (with more power also required) to drive the ship at higher warp factors. Each energy "band" produces some force on the next-innermost field, the closest of which pushes the ship. When enough energy is applied, the Enterprise tunnels through C's in Planck time.
