Distortion field
A distortion field or spatial distortion field was a type of energy field that could be associated with various natural and artificial phenomena.

Natural examples
Nervala IV was surrounded by a distortion field that precluded the use of transporters or shuttlecraft. Every eight years, the distortion field re-phased as the planet moved closer to its sun, creating small windows for transporting to or from the surface. In 2361, a massive energy surge in the distortion field that occurred while Lieutenant William T. Riker was beaming to the  caused a transporter accident and the creation of a transporter clone of him, Thomas Riker. ()

When the  encountered a temporal distortion in 2368, Lieutenant Commander Data reported fluctuations and a buildup of energy in the distortion field just before the  emerged. ()

A plasma streamer between two stars in the Igo sector exhibited a distortion field that blocked scanners. The field was inhabited by quasi-energy microbes. ()

A subspace sinkhole in the Delta Quadrant generated a distortion field powerful enough to drag starships into a subspace pocket. In 2375, the field pulled in a  shuttlecraft containing Lieutenant Commander Tuvok, Ensign Tom Paris, and the Doctor. The distortion field also bounced back any signals they attempted to send from inside the pocket. ()

Artificial examples
The opening of a Borg transwarp conduit was associated with a subspace distortion field. ()

Force fields used by the Dominion incorporated a spatial distortion field that prevented prisoners from being beamed out. ()

The Nyrian translocator used a polaron burst to create a spatial distortion field around the target just before transport. ()

The emergence of a 29th century Federation timeship from a spatial rift was preceded by fluctuations in the distortion field. ()

Federation Headquarters

In the 32nd century, Federation Headquarters was surrounded by a massive distortion field that concealed its location and protected it from direct attack. The field had a mirrored exterior and was generated by the Headquarters' shield emitters, using power supplied by a fleet of starships connected to the space station by energy cables. ()

In 3189, Minister Osyraa of the Emerald Chain gained passage through the distortion field via subterfuge after hijacking the . After negotiations between her and Fleet Admiral Charles Vance broke down, the Discovery was trapped inside the field until Osyraa's flagship, the Viridian, blasted a hole with its weaponry. ()

By 3190, following the discovery of a new source of dilithium and the conclusion of hostilities with the Emerald Chain, the Headquarters no longer needed to be hidden by the distortion field. ()

See also
 Distortion ring
 Orassin distortion field

Energy fields
Shield technology