Star Trek The Original Series, Burnt Dilithium Crystal

made from scratch set dressing / pieces

BURNT DILITHIUM CRYSTAL SiO2.  Piezoelectric and Triboluminescent. 1,750 carat +/-

Fictional Dilithium is depicted as an extremely hard crystalline mineral that occurs naturally on some planets. When placed in a high-frequency electromagnetic field, eddy currents are induced in its structure which keep charged particles away from the crystal lattice. This prevents it from reacting with antimatter when so energized, because the antimatter particles never actually touch it. Therefore, it is used to contain and regulate the annihilation reaction of matter and antimatter in a starship's warp core, which otherwise would explode from the uncontrolled annihilation reaction. Though low-quality artificial crystals can be grown or replicated, they are limited in the power of the reaction they can regulate without fragmenting, and are therefore largely unsuitable for warp drive applications. Due to the need for natural dilithium crystals for interstellar travel, deposits of this material are, much like real-world equivalents such as oil, a highly contested resource, and as such, dilithium crystals have led to more interstellar conflict than all other reasons combined.

Ironically life imitated Star Trek art; In 1962, Robert N. Hall demonstrated the first laser diode device that has become, after 50 years, SiO2   quartz/garnet coated with ytrinium. These YAG lasers are used in fusion, plasma and, research application at the present time.  

Certified Properties of this Prop: REFRACTIVE INDEX=1.544-1.553, Post-Irradiated, Cairngorm Variety Crystal, Trigonal 32, SPECIFIC GRAVITY= 2.66 (+0.03/-0.02).

The Run: This is #2 of three, giant real crystal points (of the right color and size) are both very hard to come by and very hard to dress on a faceting lap…..

Dimensions Nominal: crystal 2-1/2” x 1-3/4” x 4” sized to approximate the screen prop, base is 10” x 8” x 1” solid acrylic with acrylic index pins set in epoxy and laser engraved brass color plaque.