Interdimensional rifts were anomalies that breached the boundaries between alternate dimensions in the space-time continuum. A somewhat generic term, these rifts could take different forms, like quantum fissures, spatial scissions or subspace tears, among many others. Naturally occurring or artificially generated, such rifts could range in size from the microscopic to large enough to allow a starship or cosmozoan life-form to pass through. (VOY: "Scorpion", et. al)
A similar, but distinct phenomenon was a spatial interphase, an overlapping area between two dimensions rather than a disruption, sometimes referred to as interspace. (TOS: "The Tholian Web")
In the mirror universe, such rifts had been observed as far back as the 18th century and the early history of the Terran Empire, though their nature was not understood for some time. As Terran science developed, they were able to predict where and when the rifts would open, though what lay on the other end was always seemingly random. In 2270, the odds of one such rift opening between the mirror and prime universes was calculated to be 624,483 to 1. That year, the ISS Potemkin became the only known vessel of the Terran Empire to traverse such a rift and survive, though just barely. (Starship Farragut: "The Crossing")
External links[]
- Interdimensional rift article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.