Bussard Ram scoop The bussard ram scoop is designed to collect the small amounts of free interstellar hydrogen as a emergency replacement fuel to the ships deuterium supplies, when the ship is out of re-supply range or in distress. The bussard ram scoops uses magnetic fields and ionising radiation to draw hydrogen atoms into the collectors. Even though the density of interstellar matter is very low, one atom per cubic centimetre, travelling at warp velocity can produces a sizable amount of captured matter. The collectors can gather enough material to supply the ships deuterium need, although extended operation is not recommended. During warp flight the collector uses magnetic fields to slow atoms down before they reach the collector. The deflector shields must also be adjusted during bussard operation to allow hydrogen atoms through the shields. Other uses of the collectors have included releasing gas streams into space. The collectors have also been used as weapons to release unstable gas in front of enemy ships.