Plasma-based weaponry
Encyclopedia
A plasma weapon is any theoretical firearm
designed to use plasma
(high-energy ionized gas
) as a weapon. The plasma is typically intended to be created by superheating
lasers or superfrequency devices.
Such weapons can be intended to be lethal, causing death by serious burns or the melting of targets, or non-lethal and intended to disrupt electronics using an electromagnetic pulse
.
While no practical example of such weaponry has been produced, corporations such as Boeing
have funded research and development
into the technology.
has considered furthering the research of plasma weapons and directed energy weapons, or DEW. Boeing Phantom Works
has several ideas, one of which is that a plasma weapon aboard a hypersonic
aircraft could possibly skim off the plasma that naturally forms around the airframe of a vehicle traveling at Mach
eight. They hypothesize that this captured plasma could then be redirected by a focusing system and used as a weapon. There is an apparent interest in plasma for aerospace technologies in the U.S.
A nonlethal weapon designed to use a laser to induce a high energy state in gases is currently being funded by the United States military. The leading tip of the incoming beam ionized the target material, while the remainder is absorbed by this newly created plasma causing it to expand rapidly. This rapid expansion not only has an effect similar to a flash-bang grenade, but also creates an extremely strong EM field which is tunable through the output of the laser itself. This EM field stimulates nerves throughout the body triggering muscle paralysis and/or intense sensations of pain. There have been concerns that the technology may be unethically used, as it is possible to stimulate pain nerves throughout a person's body creating unimaginable levels of agony.
Date: 5.07.07
When the two patents below are carefully read, a conclusion can be reached that a plasma column can be created in the atmosphere and used as an antenna to transmit to a target on the ground. That target might be a person.
"Columnar focal lens" 5,900,986 Air Force patent
short excerpt:
"Horizontal plasma antenna using plasma drift currents" 6,118,407
Navy patent
short excerpt:
One can ionize the atmosphere by just heating it up with electromagnetics (laser, microwaves, etc.), but it is much easier to generate plasma if one dumps barium, carbon, and aluminum into the atmosphere first.
With the assistance of a $2.7 Million U.S. contract, Stellar Photonics is developing a Plasma Acoustic Shield System
, or PASS. The PASS uses a high-energy laser to create an airborne ball of plasma, then uses another laser to create a shock wave inside the plasma ball, creating a flash of light and explosion.
This link leads to a "heavily censored document" which is a twelve page Navy contract with the Univ. of Florida to "study the consequences of using an electromagnetic pulse emitted by laser induced plasma channels" on humans. The contract states that several directed energy weapons can be used alone or with each other to induce non-lethal to lethal attacks. From researching the various direct energy weapons included in the contract, it has been revealed that the weapons cramp muscles, pound on bones, stab joints, attack tissue and various organs of the body.
weapons are merely theoretical, as currently they need more power than any handheld device could supply. If small portable fusion reactor
s are made, 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:
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.
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
designed to use plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
(high-energy ionized gas
Gas
Gas is one of the three classical states of matter . Near absolute zero, a substance exists as a solid. As heat is added to this substance it melts into a liquid at its melting point , boils into a gas at its boiling point, and if heated high enough would enter a plasma state in which the electrons...
) as a weapon. The plasma is typically intended to be created by superheating
Superheating
In physics, superheating is the phenomenon in which a liquid is heated to a temperature higher than its boiling point, without boiling...
lasers or superfrequency devices.
Such weapons can be intended to be lethal, causing death by serious burns or the melting of targets, or non-lethal and intended to disrupt electronics using an electromagnetic pulse
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
.
While no practical example of such weaponry has been produced, corporations such as Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
have funded research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
into the technology.
Current research
BoeingBoeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
has considered furthering the research of plasma weapons and directed energy weapons, or DEW. Boeing Phantom Works
Boeing Phantom Works
The Phantom Works division is the advanced prototyping arm of the Defense and Security side of The Boeing Company. Its primary focus is developing advanced military products and technologies, many of them highly classified, and has produced breakthroughs in defense, space and security.Founded by...
has several ideas, one of which is that a plasma weapon aboard a hypersonic
Hypersonic
In aerodynamics, a hypersonic speed is one that is highly supersonic. Since the 1970s, the term has generally been assumed to refer to speeds of Mach 5 and above...
aircraft could possibly skim off the plasma that naturally forms around the airframe of a vehicle traveling at Mach
Mach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
eight. They hypothesize that this captured plasma could then be redirected by a focusing system and used as a weapon. There is an apparent interest in plasma for aerospace technologies in the U.S.
A nonlethal weapon designed to use a laser to induce a high energy state in gases is currently being funded by the United States military. The leading tip of the incoming beam ionized the target material, while the remainder is absorbed by this newly created plasma causing it to expand rapidly. This rapid expansion not only has an effect similar to a flash-bang grenade, but also creates an extremely strong EM field which is tunable through the output of the laser itself. This EM field stimulates nerves throughout the body triggering muscle paralysis and/or intense sensations of pain. There have been concerns that the technology may be unethically used, as it is possible to stimulate pain nerves throughout a person's body creating unimaginable levels of agony.
Date: 5.07.07
When the two patents below are carefully read, a conclusion can be reached that a plasma column can be created in the atmosphere and used as an antenna to transmit to a target on the ground. That target might be a person.
"Columnar focal lens" 5,900,986 Air Force patent
short excerpt:
The concept of utilizing a plasma generated by laser guided electric discharges in the atmosphere as the conducting element of an antenna . . . . The principal objective was the development of an antenna with no physical structure, but with large effective area.
The present invention is a lens that produces a columnar focus with the axis of the focal column perpendicular to the principal plane of the lens. The lens refracts an incident wave front with a focal length that is dependent upon the radial distance from the axis of the lens. These foci produce a focal column. The radii of curvature of the primary surface of the lens are dependent upon the desired length of the focal column. The thus focused radiation can be used to generate free electron surfaces in the atmosphere for use as an antenna, to act as an electromagnetic transmission line, to induce lightning strikes, or for electronic counter measure purposes. The invention can also be used for end cavity pumping of a laser medium.
"Horizontal plasma antenna using plasma drift currents" 6,118,407
Navy patent
short excerpt:
A horizontal plasma antenna is provided. An ionizer generates an ionizing am through a horizontal tube to form a bounded plasma column extending along a horizontal axis in a gravity field. An amplitude or frequency modulating signal is applied to Helmholtz coils to control a horizontal magnetic field that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The resulting changes in the magnetic field produce a drift current in the plasma that, in turn, radiates an amplitude or phase modulated electromagnetic field from the plasma column.
One can ionize the atmosphere by just heating it up with electromagnetics (laser, microwaves, etc.), but it is much easier to generate plasma if one dumps barium, carbon, and aluminum into the atmosphere first.
With the assistance of a $2.7 Million U.S. contract, Stellar Photonics is developing a Plasma Acoustic Shield System
Plasma Acoustic Shield System
The Plasma Acoustic Shield System, or PASS, is in the process of being developed by Stellar Photonics. The company received a $2.7 million contract from the U.S. Government to build the PASS. It is part of a project supervised by the United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering...
, or PASS. The PASS uses a high-energy laser to create an airborne ball of plasma, then uses another laser to create a shock wave inside the plasma ball, creating a flash of light and explosion.
This link leads to a "heavily censored document" which is a twelve page Navy contract with the Univ. of Florida to "study the consequences of using an electromagnetic pulse emitted by laser induced plasma channels" on humans. The contract states that several directed energy weapons can be used alone or with each other to induce non-lethal to lethal attacks. From researching the various direct energy weapons included in the contract, it has been revealed that the weapons cramp muscles, pound on bones, stab joints, attack tissue and various organs of the body.
Practicality of plasma weapons
At present, plasmaPlasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
weapons are merely theoretical, as currently they need more power than any handheld device could supply. If small portable fusion reactor
Fusion power
Fusion power is the power generated by nuclear fusion processes. In fusion reactions two light atomic nuclei fuse together to form a heavier nucleus . In doing so they release a comparatively large amount of energy arising from the binding energy due to the strong nuclear force which is manifested...
s are made, one potential source of weapons-grade plasma sources might be a direct tap on a fusion reactor, especially a dense plasma focus
Dense plasma focus
A dense plasma focus is a machine that produces, by electromagnetic acceleration and compression, a short-lived plasma that is so hot and dense that it can cause nuclear fusion and emit X-rays. The electromagnetic compression of the plasma is called a pinch. It was invented in the early 1960s by...
, 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 compact toroidCompact toroidCompact toroids are a class of toroidal plasma configurations that are self-stable, and whose configuration does not require magnet coils running through the center of the toroid. They are studied primarily in the field of fusion energy, where the lack of complex magnets and a simple geometry may...
s and particle beamParticle beamA particle beam is a stream of charged or neutral particles which may be directed by magnets and focused by electrostatic lenses, although they may also be self-focusing ....
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 VASIMRVariable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocketThe Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket is an electro-magnetic thruster for spacecraft propulsion. It uses radio waves to ionize and heat a propellant and magnetic fields to accelerate the resulting plasma to generate thrust...
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 arcjetArcjet rocketArcjets are a form of electric propulsion for spacecraft, whereby an electrical discharge is created in a flow of propellant . This imparts additional energy to the propellant, so that one can extract more work out of each kilogram of propellant, at theexpense of increased power consumption and ...
, if his power source is strong enough. - Using current technology, if a plasma beam was fired in a planetary atmosphereAtmosphereAn atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low...
, it would quickly be stopped by atmospheric resistance and would make a short hot flame like a blow torchBlow torchA blowtorch , blow torch , or blowlamp is a tool for applying lower-intensity and more diffuse flame and heat for various applications, than the oxyacetylene torch. Before aerosol cans and pressurized gas cylinders, fuel was pressurized by a syringe or pump...
. - The plasma shot out of a plasma weapon would tend to dissipate in the surrounding environment within about 50 centimeters from the gun, from thermal and/or electric pressure expansion, called blooming, unless:
- The magnetic confinement bottle is extended all the way to the target. 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 lightningBall lightningBall lightning is an unexplained atmospheric electrical phenomenon. The term refers to reports of luminous, usually spherical objects which vary from pea-sized to several metres in diameter. It is usually associated with thunderstorms, but lasts considerably longer than the split-second flash of a...
). - The particles are fired fast enough to reach a target before blooming occurs. This is then a particle beamParticle beamA particle beam is a stream of charged or neutral particles which may be directed by magnets and focused by electrostatic lenses, although they may also be self-focusing ....
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 spaceOuter spaceOuter space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
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 electrolaserElectrolaserAn electrolaser is a type of electroshock weapon which is also a directed-energy weapon. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel...
). - 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 Plasma Pistol from UFO: Alien InvasionUFO: Alien InvasionUFO: Alien Invasion is an open source strategy video game in which the player fights aliens that are trying to take control of the Earth. The game is heavily influenced by the X-COM series . It is based on a modified id Tech 2 engine, and runs on Linux, Microsoft Windows, AmigaOS 4, and Mac OS X...
.
- 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 seriesHalo (series)Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
, or the venting of built-up heat from powerful but unstable plasma weapons (capable of seriously injuring or killing its user) designed by the Imperium of ManImperium (Warhammer 40,000)The Imperium of Man is a fictional galactic empire of over a million planets that contains the vast majority of humans in the forty-first millennium, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe created by Games Workshop....
in the Warhammer 40,000Warhammer 40,000Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
universe. - Another weakness present in some works of fiction is the tendency of the plasma blast to 'explode' the first time it touches anything, like a leaf, twig, or raindrop. This is used to explain how a war in a forest environment with such powerful weapons can last more than a few seconds.
- A plasma round would glow very brightly due to blackbody radiationThermal radiationThermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation generated by the thermal motion of charged particles in matter. All matter with a temperature greater than absolute zero emits thermal radiation....
, leading to quick substantial energy loss. This might also represent a blinding hazard for the operator and bystanders. From basic physics, a 1 cm ball of plasma at 10,000 KelvinKelvinThe kelvin is a unit of measurement for temperature. It is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units and is assigned the unit symbol K. The Kelvin scale is an absolute, thermodynamic temperature scale using as its null point absolute zero, the temperature at which all...
(K) would be equal to a 700 kilowatt (kw) bulb. 1000 K would equate to a 70 W bulb. - Many materials already exist that are highly resistant to plasma, reinforced carbon-carbonReinforced carbon-carbonCarbon fibre-reinforced carbon is a composite material consisting of carbon fibre reinforcement in a matrix of graphite. It was developed for the nose cones of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and is most widely known as the material for the nose cone and wing leading edges of the Space Shuttle...
used on the Space ShuttleSpace ShuttleThe Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
's nose cone for example; or the ceramic insertsCeramic plateCeramic plates are commonly used as inserts in soft ballistic vests. Most ceramic plates used in body armor provide National Institute of Justice Type III protection, allowing them to stop rifle bullets. Ceramic plates are a form of composite armor...
used in bulletproof vests.
With a railgun
Railgun
A railgun is an entirely electrical gun that accelerates a conductive projectile along a pair of metal rails using the same principles as the homopolar motor. Railguns use two sliding or rolling contacts that permit a large electric current to pass through the projectile. This current interacts...
a 'plasma/particle thrower' similar to a long range natural gas flamethrower
Flamethrower
A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited flammable liquid; some project a long gas flame. Most military flamethrowers use liquids, but commercial flamethrowers tend to use high-pressure propane and...
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
Lorentz force
In physics, the Lorentz force is the force on a point charge due to electromagnetic fields. It is given by the following equation in terms of the electric and magnetic fields:...
). The plasma thrower would use a rapid-fire small projectile and very thick rails spring/actuator mounted that move inwards with wear. A tungsten
Tungsten
Tungsten , also known as wolfram , is a chemical element with the chemical symbol W and atomic number 74.A hard, rare metal under standard conditions when uncombined, tungsten is found naturally on Earth only in chemical compounds. It was identified as a new element in 1781, and first isolated as...
-aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
-chromium
Chromium
Chromium is a chemical element which has the symbol Cr and atomic number 24. It is the first element in Group 6. It is a steely-gray, lustrous, hard metal that takes a high polish and has a high melting point. It is also odorless, tasteless, and malleable...
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.
See also
- Pulsed Energy ProjectilePulsed Energy ProjectilePulsed Energy Projectile or PEP is a technology of non-lethal weaponry currently under development by the U.S. military. It involves the emission of an invisible laser pulse which, upon contact with the target, ablates the surface and creates a small amount of exploding plasma...
- Plasma torchPlasma torchA plasma torch is a device for generating a directed flow of plasma. The plasma jet can be used for applications including plasma cutting, plasma spraying, and plasma arc waste disposal....
- Plasma antennaPlasma antennaA plasma antenna is a type of radio antenna currently in development in which plasma is used instead of the metal elements of a traditional antenna. A plasma antenna can be used for both transmission and reception...
- List of plasma (physics) applications articles