A portable 23rd century spectrometer.
A spectrometer was a specialized type of sensor technology capable of analyzing and measuring electromagnetic fields, wave frequencies, and light. Used in various scientific fields, these devices varied in size from a hand-held unit to a ship-mounted array.
Customized spectrometers such as the flux spectrometer or mass spectrometer precisely measured very specific types of matter or energy.
History and specifics[]
NASA's 1962 Ranger 5 space probe was equipped with several sensing technologies, including a gamma ray spectrometer. A schematic of Ranger 5 pinpointing the location of the spectrometer was among the information taken from the Federation starship USS Enterprise's library computer by the Talosians in the year 2254. (TOS episode: "The Cage")
Nyota Uhura used a spectrometer to paralyze Kentak.
In 2264, Nyota Uhura brought a portable spectrometer to analyze a neural-disruptor energy field set up near a Klingon outpost on Tally. When she discover the field would paralyze exposed people, she used the spectrometer to broadcast inverse frequencies to create a protective null zone around her. Finding she had to shut off the source of the energy field, she used hit and run tactics, using the spectrometer as a weapon, reversing any protective effects around Klingon soldiers, so that they were paralyzed. When the device's power cell started to drain and the device was losing effectiveness, she rigged it to broadcast at an ultra-high-frequency wavelength that would fatigue metal, collapsing the facility that housed the neural-disruptor's source. (TOS comic: "Uhura's Story")
In 2267, astrobiologist Cantone used a variety of tools to search for life in a system before its star swelled to become a red giant, but wan't able to pick up any evidence for it. He used thermal imagers, spectrometers, and remote cluster quark resonance scanners. (TOS - Invasion! novel: First Strike)
In the 2280s decade, the geology laboratory on Muldor IV was outfitted with spectrometers, as well as chemical synthesizers and ore analyzers. (FASA RPG module: Termination: 1456)
In 2333, the USS Stargazer's sensors consisted of proton spectrometers, gamma ray imagers, and gravimetric distortion scanners. When the crew investigated dense plasma surrounding Beta Barritus, science officer Juanita Valderrama suggested they use an older technology: radar. (STA novel: Gauntlet)
Stargazer also had virtual neutrino spectrometers. (STA novel: Progenitor) Later that year, Ensign Andreas Nikolas joked that his supervisor Lieutenant Kastiigan might kill him by overpowering the ship's neutrino spectrometer. (STA novel: Three)
In 2357, Eric Stiles and Zevon used a spectrometer to detect a spacial anomaly known as the Constrictor. (TNG - Double Helix novel: Red Sector)
Among the various astrophysical instruments carried aboard USS Voyager was a spectrometer used for X-ray imaging. Its detector aperture was mounted on the ship's hull. In 2375, Dr. Maalot suggested ways of improving its capabilities to help the ship observe a binary pulsar. (VOY novel: Death of a Neutron Star)
Voyager also had a virtual aperture graviton flux spectrometer and a high-resolution graviton flux spectrometer. (VOY novel: The Black Shore)
Appendices[]
References[]
- TOS episode: "The Cage" (gamma-ray spectrometer)
- FASA RPG module: Termination: 1456
- TOS comic: "Uhura's Story"
- TOS - Invasion! novel: First Strike
- STA novel: Gauntlet
- STA novel: Progenitor
- STA novel: Three
- VOY novel: Death of a Neutron Star
- VOY novel: The Black Shore
- TNG - Double Helix novel: Red Sector
- STO - Allies mission: "Memory Lane" (laser spectrometer)
External links[]
- Spectrometer article at Memory Alpha, the wiki for canon Star Trek.
- Spectrometer article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.