Dilithium crystal

A Dilithium Crystal is a Liquid or Solid Crystalline form of the Gaseous energetic element Dilithium. Dilithum Crystals are the primary Crystallic fusion power source for all Star And Imperial Warships.

Crystal Properties
Dilithium regulates the Matter/Anti-Matter reaction within a ships Warp Engine. This is possible because its ability to be rendered porous to light-element Anti-Matter when exposed to high temperatures and pressures. It can control the amount of power generated in the Reaction Chamber, channeling the energy released by mutual annihilation into the stream of Electro-Plasma. Spent crystals leave a Trilithium resin in the reactor chamber. 1 of the reasons that Dilithium was so valuable before the late 23rd Century is due to the fact that Dilithium quickly decrystallizes through use until 2286 when Spock and Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott created a Anti Crystallization process through a process of recrystallization through Gamma Radiation.

Crystal History
Constitution Class Warships used Crystallized Lithium as a power source until the mid-2260's when the Gas based element Dilithium was discovered. Currently while Dilithium Crystals are primarily used only as a 2ndary power source that powers the Matter/Anti-Matter Batteries. When it was replaced with a Omega Molecule Core. However many other alien species still uses Dilithium as a primary power source.