Plasma Guns - Revision history

Lwcamp at 19:05, 7 March 2026

2026-03-07T19:05:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:05, 7 March 2026
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	[[Category:Beams]][[Category:Warfare‏‎]][[Category:Military Technology]][[Category:Engineering‏‎]]		[[Category:Beams]][[Category:Warfare‏‎]][[Category:Military Technology]][[Category:Engineering‏‎]][[Category:Physics & Math & Engineering]]

Lwcamp: /* Making the plasma at your target */

2025-12-25T07:09:36Z

Making the plasma at your target

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:09, 25 December 2025
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	So it turns out to be difficult to get plasma from your gun to your target and have it explode at the target. One solution is to cut out the middle-man and just make the plasma right on (or in) your target!		So it turns out to be difficult to get plasma from your gun to your target and have it explode at the target. One solution is to cut out the middle-man and just make the plasma right on (or in) your target!

	This trick uses [[Laser Weapons\|lasers]], hypervelocity kinetics, or very high energy density explosives (such as nuclear warheads) to suddenly energize part (or all) of the target, heating it to a plasma state that then explodes. It can be very effective, and physics allows it.		This trick uses [[Laser Weapons\|lasers]], [[Electromagnetic_guns#High_speed\|hypervelocity kinetics]], or very high energy density explosives (such as nuclear warheads) to suddenly energize part (or all) of the target, heating it to a plasma state that then explodes. It can be very effective, and physics allows it.

	==Blood guns==		==Blood guns==

Lwcamp: /* High pressure plasma bolts */

2025-04-11T05:33:17Z

High pressure plasma bolts

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:33, 10 April 2025
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	Now assume that the bolt is moving with a speed v. If v is not much, much larger than c<sub>s</sub>, by the time the bolt reaches its target, it will have expanded out to far too diffuse to cause much damage; certainly too much to explode. But the kinetic energy of the bolt is		Now assume that the bolt is moving with a speed v. If v is not much, much larger than c<sub>s</sub>, by the time the bolt reaches its target, it will have expanded out to far too diffuse to cause much damage; certainly too much to explode. But the kinetic energy of the bolt is
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	~~E_K~~ = ½ M v²		E<sub>K</sub> = ½ M v²
	</div>		</div>
	and as a consequence the kinetic energy of the bolt will absolutely dwarf the thermal energy. In other words, the tendency of the plasma to intrinsically explode is irrelevant, the kinetic energy is all that matters. You might as well be shooting the target with a bullet.		and as a consequence the kinetic energy of the bolt will absolutely dwarf the thermal energy. In other words, the tendency of the plasma to intrinsically explode is irrelevant, the kinetic energy is all that matters. You might as well be shooting the target with a bullet.

Lwcamp: /* High pressure plasma bolts */

2025-04-11T05:32:06Z

High pressure plasma bolts

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:32, 10 April 2025
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	P = ρ c<sub>s</sub>² / γ		P = ρ c<sub>s</sub>² / γ
	</div>		</div>
	If you multiply through by h<sub>V</sub> V, you can see that the thermal energy of the bolt will be		If you multiply through by h<sub>V</sub> V, and use our previous equation of E/V = h<sub>V</sub> P, you can see that the thermal energy of the bolt will be
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	E<sub>T</sub> = h<sub>V</sub> M c<sub>s</sub>² / γ		E<sub>T</sub> = h<sub>V</sub> M c<sub>s</sub>² / γ

Lwcamp: /* High pressure plasma bolts */

2025-04-11T05:31:02Z

High pressure plasma bolts

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:31, 10 April 2025
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	P = ρ c<sub>s</sub>² / γ		P = ρ c<sub>s</sub>² / γ
	</div>		</div>
	If you multiply through by h<sub>V</~~sub> h<~~sub>V~~</sub>~~, you can see that the thermal energy of the bolt will be		If you multiply through by h<sub>V</sub> V, you can see that the thermal energy of the bolt will be
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	E<sub>T</sub> = h<sub>V</sub> M c<sub>s</sub>² / γ		E<sub>T</sub> = h<sub>V</sub> M c<sub>s</sub>² / γ

Lwcamp: /* High pressure plasma bolts */

2025-04-09T05:03:00Z

High pressure plasma bolts

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:03, 8 April 2025
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	P = ρ c<sub>s</sub>² / γ		P = ρ c<sub>s</sub>² / γ
	</div>		</div>
	If you multiply through by ~~the volume~~, you can see that the thermal energy of the bolt will be		If you multiply through by h<sub>V</sub> h<sub>V</sub>, you can see that the thermal energy of the bolt will be
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	E<sub>T</sub> = h<sub>V</sub> M c<sub>s</sub>² / γ		E<sub>T</sub> = h<sub>V</sub> M c<sub>s</sub>² / γ
	</div>		</div>
	where ~~<math>~~M~~</math>~~ is the total mass of the plasma in the bolt.		where M is the total mass of the plasma in the bolt.

	Now assume that the bolt is moving with a speed ~~<math>~~v~~</math>~~. If ~~<math>~~v~~</math>~~ is not much, much larger than <~~math~~>~~c_s~~</~~math~~>, by the time the bolt reaches its target, it will have expanded out to far too diffuse to cause much damage; certainly too much to explode. But the kinetic energy of the bolt is		Now assume that the bolt is moving with a speed v. If v is not much, much larger than c<sub>s</sub>, by the time the bolt reaches its target, it will have expanded out to far too diffuse to cause much damage; certainly too much to explode. But the kinetic energy of the bolt is
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"~~><math~~>		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	E_K = ~~\frac{1}{2} \,~~ M \, v^2		E_K = ½ M v²
	~~</math>~~</div>		</div>
	and as a consequence the kinetic energy of the bolt will absolutely dwarf the thermal energy. In other words, the tendency of the plasma to intrinsically explode is irrelevant, the kinetic energy is all that matters. You might as well be shooting the target with a bullet.		and as a consequence the kinetic energy of the bolt will absolutely dwarf the thermal energy. In other words, the tendency of the plasma to intrinsically explode is irrelevant, the kinetic energy is all that matters. You might as well be shooting the target with a bullet.

	And as a rough example of what the speeds are, to get a well-ionized plasma you are probably looking at something like a temperature of at least ~~<math>~~T ~~\approx~~ 3000~~</math>~~ K (although hot plasmas can easily go far higher). 3000 K is also, incidentally, hot enough to get the bolt glowing a sort of yellow-white, about like an incandescent bulb. By applying the ideal gas law to the speed of sound equation, we can find		And as a rough example of what the speeds are, to get a well-ionized plasma you are probably looking at something like a temperature of at least T ≈ 3000 K (although hot plasmas can easily go far higher). 3000 K is also, incidentally, hot enough to get the bolt glowing a sort of yellow-white, about like an incandescent bulb. By applying the ideal gas law to the speed of sound equation, we can find
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><~~math~~>		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	~~c_s~~ = ~~\sqrt{\gamma \frac{~~R \, T}{m}}		c<sub>s</sub> = √[γ R T/m]
	~~</math>~~</div>		</div>
	for gas constant ~~<math>~~R = 8.314~~</math>~~ J/mol/K and molar mass ~~<math>~~m~~</math>~~.		for gas constant R = 8.314 J/mol/K and molar mass m.
	We can bracket the speed by using hydrogen (~~<math>~~m = 0.001~~</math>~~ kg/mol) and uranium (~~<math>~~m = 0.238~~</math>~~ kg/mol). This gives an expansion speed for 3000 K uranium plasma of 418 m/s and for 3000 K hydrogen plasma of 6450 m/s. Because the bolt will need to be going much, much faster than this expansion speed to remain concentrated at the target, you will be looking at projecting the plasma bolt at orbital speeds (7+ km/s) or beyond. And at these speeds in air, the bolt will rapidly erode within several times its length in the same way meteors burn up in the air until there is nothing left.		We can bracket the speed by using hydrogen (m = 0.001 kg/mol) and uranium (m = 0.238 kg/mol). This gives an expansion speed for 3000 K uranium plasma of 418 m/s and for 3000 K hydrogen plasma of 6450 m/s. Because the bolt will need to be going much, much faster than this expansion speed to remain concentrated at the target, you will be looking at projecting the plasma bolt at orbital speeds (7+ km/s) or beyond. And at these speeds in air, the bolt will rapidly erode within several times its length in the same way meteors burn up in the air until there is nothing left.

	===Controlled expansion plasma bolts===		===Controlled expansion plasma bolts===

Lwcamp: /* High pressure plasma bolts */

2025-04-09T04:56:54Z

High pressure plasma bolts

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:56, 8 April 2025
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	As we have seen, to get the bolt to explode we will need <i>much</i> more energy density, and hence much more pressure, than the surrounding air. In cases like this, the air pressure becomes negligible and expansion happens at close to the speed of sound in the plasma (which will usually be much higher than the speed of sound in air). In an ideal gas, the speed of sound is given by		As we have seen, to get the bolt to explode we will need <i>much</i> more energy density, and hence much more pressure, than the surrounding air. In cases like this, the air pressure becomes negligible and expansion happens at close to the speed of sound in the plasma (which will usually be much higher than the speed of sound in air). In an ideal gas, the speed of sound is given by
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><~~math~~>		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	~~c_s~~ = ~~\sqrt{\gamma \frac{~~P~~}{\rho}}~~		c<sub>s</sub> = √[γ P / ρ]
	~~</math>~~</div>		</div>
	for speed of sound <~~math~~>~~c_s~~</~~math~~>, pressure ~~<math>~~P~~</math>~~, mass density ~~<math>\rho</math>~~, and adiabatic index ~~<math>\gamma</math>~~. For a mono-atomic ideal gas, ~~<math>\gamma~~ = 5/3~~</math>~~, and in general is <~~math~~>~~\gamma = \hat{c}_P~~/~~\hat{c}_V~~</~~math~~>, where <~~math~~>~~\hat{c}_P~~</~~math~~> is the specific heat capacity at constant pressure. For a plasma dominated by electromagnetic fields or a relativistic plasma, the speed of sound will be close to the speed of light (<~~math~~>~~c_s \approx~~ 300,000,000~~</math>~~ m/s), which is the absolute upper limit on how fast any plasma can expand.		for speed of sound c<sub>s</sub>, pressure P, mass density ρ, and adiabatic index γ. For a mono-atomic ideal gas, γ = 5/3, and in general is γ = h<sub>P</sub> / h<sub>V</sub>, where h<sub>P</sub> is the specific heat capacity at constant pressure. For a plasma dominated by electromagnetic fields or a relativistic plasma, the speed of sound will be close to the speed of light (c<sub>s</sub> ≈ 300,000,000 m/s), which is the absolute upper limit on how fast any plasma can expand.

	It is useful to re-write the speed of sound equation by re-arranging the terms		It is useful to re-write the speed of sound equation by re-arranging the terms
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"~~><math~~>		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	P = ~~\gamma \, \rho \, c_s^2~~		P = ρ c<sub>s</sub>² / γ
	</~~math~~></div>		</div>
	If you multiply through by the volume, you can see that the thermal energy of the bolt will be		If you multiply through by the volume, you can see that the thermal energy of the bolt will be
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><~~math~~>		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	~~E_T~~ = ~~\hat{~~c~~}_p \, M \, c_s^2~~		E<sub>T</sub> = h<sub>V</sub> M c<sub>s</sub>² / γ
	</~~math~~></div>		</div>
	where <math>M</math> is the total mass of the plasma in the bolt.		where <math>M</math> is the total mass of the plasma in the bolt.

Lwcamp: /* What is plasma */

2025-04-09T04:37:26Z

What is plasma

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:37, 8 April 2025
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	</ul>		</ul>
	Generally, it is useful to express this as		Generally, it is useful to express this as
	<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"~~><math~~>		<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
	~~\frac{~~E}{V} = ~~\hat{c}_V P~~		E / V = h<sub>V</sub> P
	</~~math~~></div>		</div>
	where <~~math~~>~~\hat{c}_V~~</~~math~~> is the constant of proportionality between the energy density and pressure (generally between 1 and 3 from the above discussion) and has the physical meaning of the dimensionless specific heat at constant volume.		where h<sub>V</sub> is the constant of proportionality between the energy density and pressure (generally between 1 and 3 from the above discussion) and has the physical meaning of the dimensionless specific heat at constant volume.

	==Plasma bolts==		==Plasma bolts==

Lwcamp: /* Controlled expansion plasma bolts */

2025-02-15T05:37:05Z

Controlled expansion plasma bolts

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:37, 14 February 2025
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	So how do we optimize this effect? First, shoot out plasma with only one kind of charge. For example, only electrons or only protons or something. This maximizes the amount of current. Second, you need it going fast. Very fast. The faster it goes, the better the effect works. Fundamentally, this is a relativistic effect, so you're looking at relativistic speeds here.		So how do we optimize this effect? First, shoot out plasma with only one kind of charge. For example, only electrons or only protons or something. This maximizes the amount of current. Second, you need it going fast. Very fast. The faster it goes, the better the effect works. Fundamentally, this is a relativistic effect, so you're looking at relativistic speeds here.

	So now we're shooting bunches of charged fundamental particles at our target at relativistic speeds. We have just turned our plasma gun into a [[Particle Beam Weapons\|particle beam]]. We no longer have glowing bolts that we can track with our eyes as they zip off to what we're shooting at. Instead we have a sudden pulse of star hot plasma flashing instantly into existence as a pencil-thin beam like straight lightning for just a moment before vanishing, leaving behind a thunderclap and optical after-images and a big hole blasted through whatever we had our gun pointed at. The good news, though, is that we know that this works. There have been studies done that have demonstrated the ability of charged particle beams to propagate ~~for kilometers~~ through air. There are a bunch of technical details that need to be worked out, such as various beam instabilities that make the beam break up or swerve away from the direction you were aiming, but there are potential ways forward to get around these issues.		So now we're shooting bunches of charged fundamental particles at our target at relativistic speeds. We have just turned our plasma gun into a [[Particle Beam Weapons\|particle beam]]. We no longer have glowing bolts that we can track with our eyes as they zip off to what we're shooting at. Instead we have a sudden pulse of star hot plasma flashing instantly into existence as a pencil-thin beam like straight lightning for just a moment before vanishing, leaving behind a thunderclap and optical after-images and a big hole blasted through whatever we had our gun pointed at. The good news, though, is that we know that this works. There have been studies done that have demonstrated the ability of charged particle beams to propagate through air. There are a bunch of technical details that need to be worked out, such as various beam instabilities that make the beam break up or swerve away from the direction you were aiming, but there are potential ways forward to get around these issues.

	===Compact toroids===		===Compact toroids===

Lwcamp: /* Controlled expansion plasma bolts */

2025-02-15T05:36:03Z

Controlled expansion plasma bolts

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:36, 14 February 2025
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	So how do we get a sheath of stationary plasma from the gun to the target? We need some kind of ambient "stuff" around to supply the plasma. For example, air. This won't work in a complete vacuum. The plasma bolt expends some of its energy as it travels to turn the air (or whatever) into the stationary plasma.		So how do we get a sheath of stationary plasma from the gun to the target? We need some kind of ambient "stuff" around to supply the plasma. For example, air. This won't work in a complete vacuum. The plasma bolt expends some of its energy as it travels to turn the air (or whatever) into the stationary plasma.

	So how do we optimize this effect? First, shoot out plasma with only one kind of charge. For example, only electrons or protons or something. This maximizes the amount of current. Second, you need it going fast. Very fast. The faster it goes, the better the effect works. Fundamentally, this is a relativistic effect, so you're looking at relativistic speeds here.		So how do we optimize this effect? First, shoot out plasma with only one kind of charge. For example, only electrons or only protons or something. This maximizes the amount of current. Second, you need it going fast. Very fast. The faster it goes, the better the effect works. Fundamentally, this is a relativistic effect, so you're looking at relativistic speeds here.

	So now we're shooting bunches of charged fundamental particles at our target at relativistic speeds. We have just turned our plasma gun into a [[Particle Beam Weapons\|particle beam]]. We no longer have glowing bolts that we can track with our eyes as they zip off to what we're shooting at. Instead we have a sudden pulse of star hot plasma flashing instantly into existence as a pencil-thin beam like straight lightning for just a moment before vanishing, leaving behind a thunderclap and optical after-images and a big hole blasted through whatever we had our gun pointed at. The good news, though, is that we know that this works. There have been studies done that have demonstrated the ability of charged particle beams to propagate for kilometers through air. There are a bunch of technical details that need to be worked out, such as various beam instabilities that make the beam break up or swerve away from the direction you were aiming, but there are potential ways forward to get around these issues.		So now we're shooting bunches of charged fundamental particles at our target at relativistic speeds. We have just turned our plasma gun into a [[Particle Beam Weapons\|particle beam]]. We no longer have glowing bolts that we can track with our eyes as they zip off to what we're shooting at. Instead we have a sudden pulse of star hot plasma flashing instantly into existence as a pencil-thin beam like straight lightning for just a moment before vanishing, leaving behind a thunderclap and optical after-images and a big hole blasted through whatever we had our gun pointed at. The good news, though, is that we know that this works. There have been studies done that have demonstrated the ability of charged particle beams to propagate for kilometers through air. There are a bunch of technical details that need to be worked out, such as various beam instabilities that make the beam break up or swerve away from the direction you were aiming, but there are potential ways forward to get around these issues.