US Army's use of a plasma weapon. Judging by the description, I can't tell if the plasma is actually fired towards the target first and the shockwave happens when the plasma gets close, or if it happens in the weapon itself and the shockwave is directed.
It doesn't project a plasma pulse; it uses a laser to produce a plasma pulse at the target point.
And Mike, what about using a low energy laser to cause thermal bloom and clear out the atmosphere ahead of the plasma?
The only thing I can think of that might work would be a near-lightspead ion beam along which the plasmoid rides like a donut on a pole. But if you already have that near-c ion beam, what's the point of the subsequent plasmoid?
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
Come on, I really don't see how a person's blood can be used as a weapon. Oh, you're talking about a different kind of plasma?
[/stupidity]
Now that I have that out of the way, I've never understood why projectile weapons have been continuously overlooked in modern sci-fi (except for the updated Galactica, all the ship weapons were kinetic)
Chris: "Way to go dad, fight the machine"
Stewie: "How do you know about the machine?"
--
"I object to you. I object to intellect without discipline. I object to power without constructive purpose."
-Spock, 'The Squire of Gothos'
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"I'm only 56? Damn, I'll have to get a fake ID to rent ultra-porn".
-Professor Farnsworth, "Teenage Mutant Leela's Hurdles"
I see plasma weapons, in huge, broad terms, as the largest brainbug of sci fi - sci fi games, movies, novels, everything. Plasma weapons, any 7yo can tell you, are the most powerful weapons. Everything plasma is amazing.
Except every model of a plasma weapon I've ever seen is a bomb (can we say 'fusion bomb'?) or a useless beam/flamethrower/bolt lame-esque weapon. Correct me if I'm wrong, but plasma is just a 12yo wank.
Darth Wong wrote:Anyway, the linked article describes a plasma rocket of sorts, not a plasma weapon. I've been tinkering with a partially finished article on plasma weapons at http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/Ess ... apons.html but I haven't had time to double-check the math and all the data yet.
I'd like to note though that with the exit velocities of Schlocks weapon it might be more of a particle-beam type plasma weapon, though the plasma "only" moves at a velocity of 1341km/s.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who did not.
Darth Wong wrote:Anyway, the linked article describes a plasma rocket of sorts, not a plasma weapon. I've been tinkering with a partially finished article on plasma weapons at http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/Ess ... apons.html but I haven't had time to double-check the math and all the data yet.
I'd like to note though that with the exit velocities of Schlocks weapon it might be more of a particle-beam type plasma weapon, though the plasma "only" moves at a velocity of 1341km/s.
Or possibly like that shiva weapon system which sounded cool.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who did not.
