A visible quantum fissure.
A quantum fissure is a fissure on the quantum level in the fabric of space-time, a spatial anomaly. It serves as a fixed point across the space-time continuum, intersecting countless other quantum realities.
Although not visible a quantum fissure can be detected by sensors. It will show up as a minor subspace disturbance but it needs further analysis to determine if it is actually a quantum fissure. The size of such a fissure is unknown. To make it visible on a viewscreen a warp field can be used. When doing so, the starship performing this operation should keep enough distance between the fissure and themselves, for their own safety.
A subspace differential pulse can be used to scan a quantum fissure and so find a specific quantum state signature. A scan performed by Science Officer Data in 2370 revealed at least ten million states of flux with a quantum fissure.
Although a quantum fissure is in contact with many other quantum realities it keeps them separated. So, in its normal state a quantum fissure is harmless. However, when it comes in contact with a warp engine, or its warp field, a small breach would occur between realities. This would cause the occupants of the vessel to be thrown in a state of quantum flux. Which would result in an immediate shift to another reality. The person in question would find themselves thus living in another reality but with the memories and experiences of their previous existence. Whenever that person came close to a subspace field pulse, it would intensify their quantum flux and so push them into another reality.
While scanning a quantum fissure via a subspace differential pulse, energy levels needed to be closely monitored. If an energy surge occurred on the scanning ship it would destabilize the fissure and would cause a merging of realities into the reality of the scanning ship. The only solution was to enter the fissure, by means of a shuttlecraft for example, and emit a broad spectrum warp field. This would close the fissure and so restore the barriers between all the different realities. Causing everyone and everything to return to their own reality.
All this needed to be done by the person, and means off transport, who was in the wrong universe. Because of the uncertainty principle, which dictate that time is an unknown variable, the person would return several days before or after entering the fissure. There is no way to tell exactly how much days.
Known quantum fissures
- In 2370, Lieutenant Worf, while returning from a bat'leth tournament on Forcas III in the shuttlecraft Curie, passed through a quantum fissure and found himself shifting to different realities. This shifting was caused everytime he was close to Geordi La Forge, who's VISOR emitted a subspace field pulse. He eventually returned to his own reality. (TNG: "Parallels")