Technical journal
A technical journal was a publication detailing advances in technology and other scientific fields. They are an important means of how professionals can keep their skills up to date. 

Montgomery Scott was an avid reader of technical publications, both in his capacity as a chief engineer, but also as an off-hours pursuit. In 2268, James Kirk requested that Scott go on shore leave while he was engrossed in such a journal. Scott ended up being confined to quarters after the leave, and was glad to get back to his reading.

The particular journal diagram Scott was reading was labeled "Primary phaser L,R; star ship Mk IX/01; . ()

Background information 

A clearer view of Scott's journal page was acquired by Greg Jein and published in a  fanzine called T-Negative. According to his research, the image also was used on stage in , but wasn't visible in that episode's final cut. It is notable as the first mention of the Constitution-class of starship. According to those in the know, the image actually depicted a boiler in the studio.

On the topic of technical journals, James Doohan once noted, "You know, they talk about Scotty reading technical journals. They got that idea because James Doohan reads technical journals." ( #94, , p. 28)

In the first draft script of , Ryan stated that he had read about transporters in "the technical briefs." In the final draft of that script, however, Ryan stated only that he had read about transporters without disclosing where, which he also says in the episode's final version.

External link 
  from T-Negative, April 1975 (reproduced at )

 Technical Journal