Tight-Beam Ion Engines
Ion engines propel ions, electrically charged particles, to relativisitc velocities and
release them, thereby creating forward thrust. Ion engines are very reliable, efficient,
and by far the most common way to propel a starship through space at subluminar speeds.
However, this also leaves a trail behind a passing starship of ionized particles. While
space in itself is full of charged particles, the concentration is much denser and more
distinct after an accelerating starship. This trail is one of the easiest ways to detect
the presence of a starship.
So in order to minimize the ion trail, starships who rely on stealth will both utilize
"silent running" tactics, which involves such things as running all systems on minimal
power, including the ion engines, as well as rely on only inertia to propel them towards
their target when applicable. Silent running tactics can be employed by any starship.
Tight-beam ion engines are specially built to reduce detectable ion emissions.
Unfortunately, this also means that the engines are ineffective and generally results in
lower acceleration than with comparable normal ion engines. On the up side, they are
quite efficient in reducing the ion trail. It does so by by taking the opposite solution to
the ion engine baffle system, and focuses the ion emissions from the engines into a
magnetically held tight beam with high coherence and low dispersion rate. This beam is
hard to detect unless you are directly behind the ship with tight-beam engines, in which
case the stealth rating works against the ship and instead increases detection range.
An unfortunate side effect of the low dispersion rate and the high coherence is that the
trail, if detected, can be followed long after the ship has passed, and its course can be
tracked with accuracy. Another problem with this type of engines is that they are more
dangerous to local populace since they focus the radiation tightly into a small area.
However, the Wraith is capable of shutting down the magnetic containment field when
operating in atmosphere and is as such not more dangerous than ordinary ion engines.
Due to the inherent limitations, tight-beam ion engines are not often used on starships.
In theory, the tight-beam ion engines could be used as a weapon similar to ion cannons, but
this has never been tested.
*ORIGINAL DESIGN*
Name/Type: Focused Emission Ion Engines
Designer/Manufacturer: Many
Designation: Active Stealth System
Efficiency Rating: 60 %