Isoton
From Memory Alpha, the free Star Trek reference.
An isoton is a measure of both mass and explosive yield used by at least Federation, Dominion, Borg and Malon science during the 24th century and Kyrian in the 31st century.
In 2373, Kilana had her Jem'Hadar troops fire ten isotons of explosives near a Jem'Hadar attack ship in which a team from Deep Space 9 was seeking shelter. (DS9: "The Ship")
In 2374, Captain Benjamin Sisko and his crew used a bomb with 90 isotons of enriched ultritium to destroy a ketracel-white facility in Cardassian space. The explosion radius was stated to be 800 kilometers. (DS9: "A Time to Stand")
[edit] Comparative list of measure
- A 25 isoton explosion can destroy an entire city within seconds. (VOY: "Living Witness")
- A 54 isoton explosion can blow up a small planet (VOY: "The Omega Directive")
- Photon torpedoes with class-6 warheads have the explosive yield of 200 isotons. (VOY: "Scorpion, Part II")
- A 5 million isoton explosion can affect an entire star system. The shock wave has a dispersive force radius of 5 light years. (VOY: "Scorpion, Part II")
- In the year 2375, the Malon civilization produced 6 billion isotons of antimatter waste as an industrial byproduct daily. (VOY: "Night")
- Malon export vessels can transport from over 90 million up to 4 trillion isotons of antimatter waste. (VOY: "Night", "Juggernaut")
[edit] Background
According to the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual, 25 isotons is the maximum theoretical yield of a matter-antimatter reaction in photon torpedoes and that quantum torpedoes have a yield of 50+ isotons. (pg. 85)
- These figures are not compatible with on-screen statements.
As with most other units of measure used in Star Trek: Voyager, isotons came to be used with unrealistic magnitudes such as four trillion isotons for the large Malon export vessel. As with most other measures used in Star Trek there are no direct conversions to real world measures given.
- In Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual a figure of 1,5kg of antimatter is given as the maximum warhead material of a photon torpedo. (pg. 129) Using standard physics calculations a direct 1:1 explosion would equal to about 64 megatons. Warhead materials are however premixed to achieves the level of destructive force of an antimatter pod rupture containing 100 cubic meters of antideuterium. (pg. 69) Antimatter is stored as liquid or slush on starships. (pg. 68) Density of mere liquid antideuterium is around 160 kg per cubic meter. According to this comparison the high annihilation rate energy release would be comparable to about 690 gigatons. Furthermore it is not clear if the 1,5 kg should be compared to the 200 isoton figure given on-screen, or the 25 isoton figure given in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual.
