Plasma rifle
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225696396
2008-07-14T23:17:27Z
Spikehead777
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{{TOCright}}'''Plasma rifles''' are [[science fiction weapon|theoretical weapons]] often used in [[science fiction]]. They are, in effect, a type of [[raygun]]. Plasma weapons use a small [[nuclear reactor]] or [[fuel cell]] or other type of advanced energy storage device to power an [[electromagnetic]] [[Particle accelerator|accelerator]] that fires a stream, pulse or [[toroid]] of [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]] (i.e. very hot, very energetic excited matter).
As well as rifles, several science fiction universes also contain [[pistol]]-size or [[cannon]]-size plasma-firing weapons.
The primary damage mechanism of these fictional weapons is usually primarily thermal transfer; it typically causes serious burns, and often immediate death, on living creatures, and melts or evaporates other materials. In certain fiction, plasma weapons may also have a significant kinetic energy component, that is to say the ionized material is projected with sufficient momentum to cause some secondary impact damage in addition to causing high thermal damage.
==Similar devices==
Currently, there are several tools that are somewhat related to fictional plasma rifles:
*[[Plasma cutting|Plasma torches]], which have existed for some years, project [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]] streams a [[Foot (unit of length)|foot]] at most, and are used to cut metal and concrete.
*The [[plasma gun]] as used in [[plasma physics]].
==Practicality of plasma rifles==
At present, plasma rifles are merely theoretical, as currently they need more power than any handheld device could supply. If small portable [[fusion reactor]]s are made (an extremely unlikely possibility in the near future), one potential source of weapons-grade plasma sources might be a direct tap on a fusion reactor, especially a [[dense plasma focus]], since the natural yield of such a reactor is a hot high-speed plasma beam. Making real plasma weapons will need a major scientific breakthrough, as the concept of plasma-firing weapons is scientifically difficult, for various reasons:
*The technology to create plasma [[toroid]]s and [[particle beam]]s is presently far too bulky for anything man-portable. In such a high-performance design, the plasma would have to be stored and created in highly focused magnetic bottles, such as those used in NASA's [[Variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket|VASIMR]] rocket: this design has been suggested as a potential weapon design for future real human-engineered plasma weapons. For simpler designs based on plasma cutting torches, a designer might be able to heat the plasma with an [[arcjet]], if his power source is strong enough.
*Using current technology, if a plasma beam was fired in a planetary [[Celestial body atmosphere|atmosphere]], it would quickly be stopped by atmospheric resistance and would make a short hot flame like a [[blowtorch]].
*The plasma shot out of a plasma rifle would tend to dissipate in the surrounding environment within about 50 centimeters from the gun, from thermal and/or electric pressure expansion, called [[Directed-energy weapon#Blooming|blooming]], unless:
**The magnetic confinement bottle is extended all the way to the target (as it was in the games ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Halo 2]]'' and ''[[Halo 3]]''). Modifications to this bottle could make the plasma home in on its target.
**The plasma is somehow made self-sustaining over a much longer time period (as with ''[[ball lightning]]'').
**The particles are fired fast enough to reach a target before blooming occurs. This is then a particle beam more than a plasma shot (at least as much as any technical definition for such weapons exists). This would work for use outside atmosphere (i.e. in a [[Outer space|space]] vacuum), but within an atmosphere would merely cause a hotter short flame from more violent collision between the flying particles and the atmosphere.
**It might also be possible to generate a laser beam "tunnel". High-energy lasers ionize the air around the beam, heating the atmosphere and providing the plasma bolt with an easy passage to the target (see [[electrolaser]]).
**Another laser-assisted plasma weapon approach for use in atmosphere is possible if the laser is powerful enough to blast the air out of the way, but having the plasma particles reach the target before the newly-created vacuum channel collapses in on itself is a problem unless the weapon possesses sufficient power to either sustain the channel or the aforementioned "plasma particle beam" approach is used.
**It may also be possible to encase a bolt of plasma in a capsule of some material, possibly a polymer. This would allow the plasma to reach a medium distance before the capsule wears out. For an example see the [http://ufoai.ninex.info/wiki/index.php/Equipment/Secondary_Weapons/Plasma_Pistol Plasma Pistol] from UFO: Alien Invasion.
*One common characteristic of plasma weaponry is its tendency to overheat, thus being sometimes impractical even within the context of science fiction. Two of the more well-known examples include the vulnerable cooling times for the plasma weapons in the Halo series, or the venting of built-up heat from powerful but unstable plasma weapons (capable of serously injuring or killing its user) designed by the [[Imperium of Man]] in the [[Warhammer 40,000]] universe.
With a [[railgun]] a 'plasma/particle thrower' similar to a long range natural gas [[flamethrower]] could possibly be made. Most railguns throw a trail of plasma (of the rail material and projectile material) out after or with the projectile: this is very short lived but extends over 3 to 30 feet. This is because of arcing of the rails and projectile. The plasma conducts and so is subject to the working force of all railguns ([[Lorentz force]]). The plasma thrower would use a rapid-fire small projectile and very thick rails spring/actuator mounted that move inwards with wear. A [[tungsten]]-[[aluminium]]-[[chromium]] alloy for both the rails and projectile would yield good results but the projectiles would have to be very small so they are fully disintegrated into the plasma. {{Fact|date=April 2007}}
But see [[Shiva Star]] for an attempt to make a real plasma-firing space weapon.
==Fiction that includes plasma rifles & plasma cannons==
{{incomplete-list}}
* ''[[Armored Core]]'' series
* ''[[Artemis Fowl (series)|Artemis Fowl book series]]'': Cannon-sized plasma weapons are featured, with Koboi Laboratory cannons set to kill, whereas those in Police Plaza are set to stun.
* ''[[Babylon 5]]''
* ''[[Battletech]]'' has recently introduced two [[BattleMech]]-scale plasma weapons, the Clan Plasma Cannon, which only bathes the target in flaming gases, thus causing no damage in favor of massive waste heat to BattleMechs, though heavy damage to vehicles and infantry, and the Inner Sphere Plasma Rifle, which causes sizeable amount of damage in exchange for reduced waste heat. Both use lasers and a plastic foam which becomes a plasma when lased.
* ''[[The Culture]]'' series by ''[[Iain Banks]]''
* ''[[Darkman]]''; a copy of it was used in ''[[Deus Ex]]''
* ''[[Descent (computer game)]]'' and its sequels
* ''[[Deus Ex]]'': see at [[Darkman]]
* ''[[Destroy All Humans!]]'' series (Called "Disintegrator Ray")
* The ''[[Doom (video game)|Doom]]'' series, including the [[BFG9000]]
* The computer games ''[[Dune II]]'', ''[[Dune 2000]]'', and ''[[Emperor: Battle for Dune]]''. The Harkonnen Devastator Tank is equipped with dual plasma cannons, which fire plasma "shots" over a short distances. They are powered by a nuclear reactor, which can be pushed into a [[meltdown]] under certain circumstances.
* ''Earth 21X0'' (''[[Earth 2140]]'', ''[[Earth 2150]]'', ''Moon Project'', ''[[Lost Souls]]'', ''[[Earth 2160]]'')
* ''[[Earthsiege 2]]'' features a human developed plasma cannon, the blast of which can be powerful enough to destroy even a fully shielded HERC with a single shot though at the cost of leaving little salvagable material behind.
* ''[[Eve-Online]]'' [[MMORPG]] Large Scale Plasma Cannons and Plasma Railguns are the Favored weapon of the ''Gallente'' Civilisation.
* ''[[Fallout (computer game)|Fallout series]]''
* ''[[Freelancer (computer game)|Freelancer]]''
* ''[[Half-Life 2]]'' – While never explicitly described as a "Plasma Rifle," the Overwatch Standard-Issue Pulse Rifle functions much like the Plasma Rifles of most FPS games.
* The ''[[Halo (video game series)|Halo]]'' series
* The ''[[Hammer's Slammers]]'' series
* ''[[Honor Harrington]]'' – more precisely, plasma [[carbine]]s.
* ''[[Homeworld]]'' includes many ships armed with plasma bomb launchers, notably the Attack Bomber and Assault Frigate
* Dan Simmons' [[Hyperion Cantos|Hyperion]] universe
* ''[[Jet Force Gemini]]'' includes a weapon called a Plasma Rifle, which can be charged to release a more powerful blast.
* ''[[Lilo and Stitch]] ''
* ''[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/r/john-ringo/march-upcountry.htm March Upcountry]'' and its sequels present a plasma squad-support weapon which takes advantage of thermal blooming.
* ''[[Master of Orion]]'' Often as a short range but powerful beam weapon.
* ''[[Metroid Prime]]'' - The Plasma Beam was a short range heat-based weapon, capable of rapid fire. The Plasma Beam is also present in a few other [[Metroid]] titles.
* ''[[OGame]]'' – Described as firing a "ball of plasma", the plasma turret is the most powerful defensive structure in the game.
* ''Operation: First Strike'' (short story)
* ''[[Out of this World]]'' (Sci-Fi ebook series)
* ''[[Pariah (computer game)|Pariah]]''
* ''[[Perfect Dark Zero]]''
* ''[[Phantasy Star Online]]'' - Has some guns with plasma rifle-like shots
* ''[[Phosphor]]'' – Pulse Gun functions like a plasma rifle of most FPS games
*In the ''Predator series'', the [[Predator (alien)|Predators]] are armed with shoulder mounted plasma rifles.
* ''[[Quake II]]''
* ''[[Quake III Arena]]''
* ''[[Quake 4]]''
* ''[[Ratchet and Clank]] Series''
* ''[[Rifts (role-playing game)|Rifts]]''
* In the ''[[Robotech]]'' animated series, the [[Zentraedi]] humanoid alien giants use plasma rifles.
* ''[[Schlock Mercenary]]''
* ''[[Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri]]''
* ''[[Star Fox (series)|Star Fox]]''
* ''[[Stargate SG1]]''
* ''[[Star Trek]]'' (''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'', ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Voyager]]'', and ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Enterprise]]'')
* ''[[Star Wars]]''
* ''Steel Reign''
* ''[[System Shock]]''
* ''[[TAGAP: The Apocalyptic Game About Penguins]]''. Also features a secondary fire mode which creates a small plasma shield.
* ''[[Total Annihilation]]'' and its unofficial 3D open-source variant, [[Spring (computer game)]] both include plasma cannon in the place of most tank, infantry, ship and artillery guns.
* ''[[Terminator series]]'':
** ''[[The Terminator|Terminator]]'': The [[T-800]], while in a gun shop, asks the clerk for a plasma rifle, in addition to all his other weaponry.
** ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]'': Both the Human Resistance and Terminators used plasma rifles in the introductory scene of the movie.
** ''[[T2 3-D: Battle Across Time]]'': A T-800 endoskeleton Terminator is seen carrying one, with the protagonist Terminator commandeering it for the last third of the attraction.
** ''[[Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines]]'': [[T-X]] uses cannon-sized plasma-firing guns.
* The ''[[TimeSplitters (series)|Timesplitters]]'' series has a wide arsenal of Plasma Weapons.
* ''[[The Transformers]]'' Several characters use plasma weapons, most notably [[Optimus Prime]] and his plasma rifle.
* ''[[Tribes (series)|Tribes series]]''
* ''[[Turok]]''
* ''[[Unreal (series)|Unreal series]]''
* ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'', Plasma rifles, pistols, guns, cannons, destructors(normal and titan size), annihilators(normal and titan size), and blastguns are used, noteably by the Imperium. These weapons suffer from overheating, which can often prove fatal to the user. Plasma Rifles are also used by the Tau Empire, though their plasma weapons do not suffer from this flaw.
* ''[[Wing Commander (franchise)|Wing Commander]]''
* ''[[X-COM]]'': nearly all alien weapons are plasma pistols/rifles/heavy plasmas. They work by superheating atmospheric gases in a small Elerium-powered reactor, thus creating plasma, then amplifying it with another Elerium crystal. After the projectile is ready, the gun fires it with an electromagnetic [[particle accelerator]]. This technology is reverse-engineered into the Gauss weapons in the Second Alien War, because plasma weapons explode when fired underwater.
==Links to images==
*[http://www.rmcybernetics.com/projects/DIY_Devices/plasma-gun.htm A DIY Plasma Gun]
*[http://elitefarce.cottages.polycount.com//bots/gladiators2/plasma_rifle_000.jpg Starfleet heavy plasma rifle] in [http://elitefarce.cottages.polycount.com Elitefarce] scenario
*[http://www.projectxenocide.com/artassets/pics/plas_rifle.jpg plasma rifle] in [http://www.projectxenocide.com/ Project Xenocide] scenario
<!-- *http://terminatormod.tripod.com/plasma1.jpg Commented out because of Tripoditis -->
*[http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Image:Plasma_rifle%2C_Broken_Bow.jpg civilian-issue plasma rifle] as used by farmer Moore in [[Broken Bow (Enterprise episode)]] in the [[Star Trek]] scenario
*[http://www.starfortressproductions.com/catalog/t2rifle.jpg 20 Watt Phased Plasma Rifle] seen in the opening battle scene in ''[[Terminator 2: Judgment Day]]''
*[http://www.electric-rain.net/w40kRPG/Pix/Plasma%20Rifle.jpg Plasma weapon]: see [http://www.electric-rain.net/w40kRPG/d20%20w40k/Imperial%20Weapons.htm Electric Rain]
*[http://www.shacknews.com/shack_images/sshots/serious_sam_2/PlasmaRifle.jpg XL 808 Hydro Plasmatic Rifle]: see [http://www.shacknews.com/docs/press/091505_serioussam2_weapons.x Shacknews]
*[http://www.geocities.com/lairofthesith/MACO/MajorD/PRPostHoler.jpg MACO Phased Plasma Pulse-Rifle] in [http://www.geocities.com/lairofthesith/MACO_EM41.html this page]
*[http://idverse.wikia.com/wiki/Plasma_Rifle Plasma Rifles] from [[Doom (video game)|Doom]].
[[Category:Rayguns]]
[[Category:Science fiction weapons]]
[[Category:Fictional firearms]]
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