REPLICATOR SYSTEMS

	Recent advances in transporter-based molecular synthesis have 
resulted in a number of significant spinoff technologies. Chief among these 
are transporter-based replicators. These devices permit replication of 
virtually any inanimate object with incredible fidelity and relatively low 
energy cost.
	There are two main replication systems on board the Enterprise. 
These are the food synthesizers and the hardware replicators. The food 
replicators are optimized for a finer degree of resolution because of the 
necessity of accurately replicating the chemical composition of foodstuffs. 
Hardware replicators, on the other hand, are generally tuned to a lower 
resolution for greater energy efficiency and lower memory matrix 
requirements. A number of specially modified food replication terminals are 
used in sickbay and in various science labs for synthesis of certain 
pharmaceuticals and other scientific supplies.
	These replicator system headends are located on Deck 12 in the 
Saucer Module and on Deck 34 in the Engineering Section. These systems 
operate by using a phase-transition coil chamber in which a measured 
quantity of raw material is dematerialized in a manner similar to that of a 
standard transporter. Instead of using a molecular imaging scanner to 
determine the patterns of the raw stock, however, a quantum geometry 
transformational matrix field is used to modify the matter stream to conform 
to a digitally stored molecular pattern matrix. The matter stream is then 
routed through a network of waveguide conduits that direct the signal to a 
replicator terminal at which the desired article is materialized within another 
phase transition chamber.
	In order to minimize replicator power requirements, raw stock for 
food replicators is stored in the form of a sterilized organic particulate 
suspension that has been formulated to statistically require the least 
quantum manipulation to replicate most finished foodstuffs.

REPLICATION VERSUS STORAGE

	The use of replicators dramatically reduces the requirement for 
carrying and storing both foodstuffs and spare parts. The limiting factor is 
the energy cost of molecular synthesis versus the cost of carrying an object 
onboard the ship. In the case of foodstuffs, the cost of maintaining a large 
volume of perishable supplies becomes prohibitive, especially when the cost 
of food preparation is included. Here, the energy cost of molecular synthesis 
is justified, especially when one considers the dramatic mass savings 
involved with extensive recycling of organic material.
	On the other hand, certain types of commonly used spare parts and 
supplies are not economical for replication. In such cases, the items in 
question are used in sufficient quantity that it is more economical to store 
finished products than to spend the energy to carry raw materials and 
synthesize the finished product on demand. Additionally, significant stores of 
critical spares and consumables are maintained for possible use during Alert 
situations when power for replication systems may be severely restricted or 
unavailable.

REPLICATION LIMITS

	The chief limitation of all transporter-based replicators is the 
resolution at which the molecular matrix patterns are stored. While 
transporters (which operate in realtime) recreate objects at quantum-level 
resolution suitable for life-forms, replicators store and re-create objects at 
the much simpler molecular-level resolution, which is not suitable for living 
beings.
	Because of the massive amount of computer memory required to 
store even the simplest object, it is impossible to record each molecule 
individually. Instead, extensive data compression and averaging techniques 
are used. Such techniques reduce memory storage required for molecular 
patterns by factors approaching 2.7 x 10». The resulting single-bit 
inaccuracies do not significantly impact the quality of most reproduced 
objects, but preclude the use of replicator technology to re-create living 
objects. Single-bit molecular errors could have severely detrimental effects 
on living DNA molecules and neural activity. Cumulative effects have been 
shown to closely resemble radiation-induced damage.
	The data themselves are subject to significant accuracy limits. It is 
not feasible to record or store quantum electron-state information, nor can 
Brownian motion data be accurately re-created. Doing so would represent 
another billion-fold increase in the memory required to store a given pattern. 
This means that even if each atom of every molecule were reproduced, it is 
not feasible to accurately re-create the electron shell activity patterns or the 
atomic motions that determine the dynamics of the biochemical activity of 
consciousness and thought.  Æ