Most sapient species have evolved in a single coherent linear timestream, and find it difficult to comprehend the intricacies of Temporal Mechanics. This glossary is intended to clarify some of the more commonly used terms for the temporal layman.
- Alternate Universe:
- A timestream which splits off from a past event and progresses in a different manner from the base timestream.
- Chroniton:
- An elementary quantum particle associated with the flow of time. A buildup of Chronitons can signal a Temporal Anomaly.
- Chronometric Distortion:
- A detectable phenomenon associated with time travel. A buildup of Chronitons is an example of a Chronometric Distortion.
- D-Bee:
- A Displaced Being. A colloquial term for a person in a time-frame from which he does not originate with no ability to return. Also known as a Temporally Displaced Person.
- Downtime:
- A technical term for what is colloquially known as the past. Downtime events are events which have already transpired.
- Grandfather Paradox
- A pre-Temporal Mecahnics misconception about the nature of causality. In the Grandfather Paradox, a Time Traveller accidentally kills his own grandfather or otherwise prevents his own birth, thus preventing him from killing his grandfather, thus allowing him to kill his grandfather, thus preventing . . . and so on. This type of Temporal Loop does not occur because the Time Traveller's existance and actions are not negated by his actions - in reality, the prevention of one's own birth merely results in the creation of an alternate timeline in which the subject never existed. Travelling back to the future along this timeline merely results in a the traveller having no past in the local timeline. In every respect, it is simply as if he had travelled to an Alternate Universe.
- Hypothesis:
- A supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
- Inevitability Factor:
- A colloquial term for Temporal Drag.
- Minkowski Spacetime:
- In mathematical physics Minkowski Spacetime, Minkowski Space/Time or simply Minkowski Space is a combination of three-dimensional Euclidean space and time into a four-dimensional manifold where the spacetime interval between any two events is independent of the inertial frame of reference in which they are recorded. See: Space/Time Continuum and/or Space/Time Matrix.
- Multiverse:
- The multiverse (or meta-universe) is the hypothetical set of possible universes, including the universe in which we live. Together, these universes comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, energy, and the physical laws and constants that describe them. The various universes within the multiverse are called "Parallel Universes" or "Alternative (or AlternateUniverses".
- Paradox
- An apparent break in temporal causality where cause of an event follows or appears to follow the event itself.
- Parallel Universe:
- A timestream which resembles the base timestream and where similar events occur for wildly different reasons.
The so-called Mirror Universe discovered in 2266 was a Parallel Universe, but a change made by James T. Kirk in that timeline caused it to spawn an Alternate Universe by 2370 (although still Parallel Universe to our timeline).
- Phase Discriminator
- A device which manipluates subspace to keep an FTL computer logic circuit in synchronisation with the local space-time continuum. A Phase Discriminator can be modified to project a field which can take an object or being out of phase with the local timestream.
- Predestination Paradox:
- A Predestination Paradox occurs when a traveller from the future unwittingly causes an event which had already happened in his/her past.
- Quantum Fissure:
- A fixed point in the space-time continuum opening a doorway into other quantum realities. A person or object entering a quantum fissure will shift to different realities randomly.
- Quantum Realities:
- Alternate and Parallel Universes are both varieties of Quantum Realities.
- Slingshot Effect
- In Temporal Physics, a method of achieving time travel by entering a high-gravity environment (such as a stellar corona) at high warp velocities, typically 1000c or higher (WF 10.0+).
- Space/Time Continuum:
- A mathematical model that joins space and time into a single idea called a continuum. This four-dimensional continuum is known as Minkowski Spacetime. Combining these two ideas helped cosmology to understand how the universe works on the big level (e.g. galaxies) and small level (e.g. atoms).
- Space/Time Matrix:
- The pattern of four-dimensional forces in a temporal stream, also known as Minkowski Space. Also known as the Space/Time Continuum.
- Stardate:
- The Stardate time system adjusts for shifts in relative time which occur due to the vessel's speed and warp capability. It has little relationship to Earth's time as we know it. One hour aboard the USS Enterprise at different times may equal as little as three Earth hours. The Stardate must be computed against the warp speed of the vessel and its position within our galaxy, in order to give a meaningful reading. Therefore a Stardate would be one thing at one point in the galaxy and something else again at another point in the galaxy.
- Temporal Accords:
- An interstellar treaty signed after the development of time travel, prohibiting the use of the technology for changing history.
- Temporal Anomaly:
- Any discrepancy in the flow of time.
- Temporal Conduit:
- A fixed temporal wormhole linking two points in space-time. Generally, both ends of the conduit move forward in
time, usually at the same rate. These are referred to as Stable Temporal Conduits. Occasionally, one end will move backwards in time. Conduits where the "past" end moves forward in time faster than the "future" end, or where the "future" end moves backward while the "past" end moves forward will eventually close.
- Temporal Disruption:
- A major change in a timeline caused by an action by a time traveller or their prevention of an action. Extremely
difficult to detect and prove.
- Temporal Drag:
- The tendency for the timeline to resist change. Known colloquially by DTI and later Timefleet as the Inevitability
Factor.
- Temporal Fluctuations:
- A detectable energy phenomena which can occur when an object or person travels to another time continuum.
- Temporal Fissure:
- A rip in the space-time continuum, exiting into a Temporal Bubble, Conduit, Loop or Nexus. A Fissure may be created by a number of sunbspace disruptions, typically a high energy discharge (such as an antimatter detonation) in a high-gravity environment, such as a stellar corona or near a singularity.
- Temporal Incursion:
- The appearance of an object or person in a Temporal Locus other than the one from which it originated.
- Temporal Inertia:
- The tendency for minor temporal changes to "mend" themselves.
- Temporal Locus:
- A specific set of coordinates in Minkowski Spacetime.
- Temporal Loop:
- A Temporal Conduit which folds back upon itself, causing a repeated Predestination Paradox. Unless the loop is
detected and the past Temporal Disrurtion repaired of prevented, it will become an unrepairable Closed Temporal Loop.
- Temporal Mechanics:
- The branch of Quantum Mechanics dealing with time.
- Temporal Narcosis:
- A condition whereby one experiences overwhelming neurophysical stress when entering another time continuum, in much the same way deep sea divers experience nitrogen narcosis.
- Temporal Nexus:
- A point in space-time which is especially temporally "active." Events or beings from other space-time coordinates tend to intrude on this point.
- Temporal Physics:
- The branch of Quantum Physics dealing with time.
- Temporal Portal:
- One end of a temporal conduit.
- Temporal Prime Directive:
- A fundamental Starfleet principle; all Starfleet personnel are strictly forbidden from directly interfering with historical events and are required to maintain the timeline and prevent history from being altered. It also restricts people from telling too much about the future, so as not to cause paradoxes or alter the timeline.
- Temporal Psychosis:
- A medical condition characterized by sensory aphasia, and erratic and irrational behavior.
- Temporal Repair:
- An attempt by a time traveller to reverse or prevent a Temporal Disruption. Temporal Disruptions have a high
Temporal Drag, making them difficult to reverse, but if a change in successful, Temporal Inertia tends to make it take hold.
- Temporal Rupture:
- A breakdown of both Temporal Drag and Temporal Inertia surrounding a Temporal Nexus, causing multiple
Parallel and Alternate Timelines to either manifest or annihilate one another. Generally considered unrepairable.
- Temporal Signature:
- A detectable phenomenon which defines an object's position or origin point in space/time.
- Temporally Displaced Person:
- A person in a time-frame from which he does not originate with no ability to treturn. Also known as a D-Bee or Displaced Being. Ensign Harry Kim and Naomi Wildman are temporally displaced persons who travelled to this reality from a very recent alternate timeline when their counterparts in this timeline were killed (VGR: "Deadlock"). Senior Chief Petty Officer is a temporally displaced person from a timeline 5 hours into the future (DS9: "Visionary").
- Theorem:
- A general proposition not self-evident but proved by a chain of reasoning; a truth established by means of accepted truths.
- A rule in algebra or other branches of mathematics expressed by symbols or formulae.
- Theory:
- (Scientific) A carefully thought-out explanation for observations of the natural world that has been constructed using the scientific method, and which brings together many facts and hypotheses.
- (General) A set of principles on which the practice of an activity is based.
- (Colloqial) An idea used to account for a situation or justify a course of action.
- Time:
- In the sciences generally, time is usually defined by its measurement: it is simply what a clock reads. Physics in particular often requires extreme levels of precision in time measurement, which has led to the requirement that time be considered an infinitely divisible linear continuum, and not quantized (i.e. composed of discrete and indivisible units). With modern time standards, time can now be measured accurate to about 10-15 seconds, which corresponds to about 1 second error in approximately 30 million years.
- In Temporal Mechanics, time is a single spacial dimension, usually concieved of as the fourth dimension in Minkowski Spacetime. Directions in time are the Past (Downtime), the Future (Uptime) and a nebulous intersection point known as the Now (Specious Present), with the future defined by the direction of increasing Entropy in a closed system.
- Time Traveller:
- A being or object which has moved or is capable of moving outside the normal flow of time.
- Uptime:
- A technical term for what is colloquially known as the future. Uptime events are events which have not yet transpired.
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