Plasma-based weaponry

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Plasma-based weaponry is any group of weapons designed to use high-energy ionized gas or "plasma", typically created by superheating lasers or superfrequency devices. . There has, been notable interest in its development. One plasma prototype weapon exists in Russia which was developed by The Radio Instrument Building Research Institute under the supervision of Academician A. Avramenko .Their action is based on focusing beams of electromagnetic energy produced by laser or microwave radiation into the upper layers of the atmosphere. These beams would be able to defeat any target flying at supersonic or near-sonic speeds in the near future. A cloud of highly ionized air arises at the focus of the laser or microwave rays, at an altitude of up to 50 kilometers. Upon entering it, any object--a missile, an airplane, is deflected from its trajectory and disintegrates in response to the fantastic overloads arising due to the abrupt pressure difference between the surface and interior of the flying body. What is fundamental in this case is that the energy aimed by the terrestrial components of the plasma weapon--lasers and antennas--is concentrated not at the target itself but a little ahead of it. Rather than "incinerating" the missile or airplane, it "bumps" it out of trajectory. [1]

Contents 1 Current research 2 Science-fiction 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Current research

Boeing has considered furthering the research of plasma weapons and directed energy weapons, or DEW^{[citation needed]}. 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 travelling 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.

While both of these proposals are scientifically feasible, practical applications are beyond our current level of technology. The Russians have stated to have developed a so-called "bolt-on" plasma generator that is used to actually increase the aerodynamic performance of their research aircraft using plasma to influence the fluid dynamics.

A nonleathal weapon designed to use a laser to induce a high energy state in gases via a laser is currently being funded by the United States military.^[1] This weapon utilizes Pulsed Energy Projectiles and is designed to directly stimulate pain receptors. There have been concerns that the technology may be unethically used. ^[2]

[edit] Science-fiction

Much science-fiction literature as well as movies and computer games has references to plasma weaponry.

Examples:

• The British sci-fi series Blake's 7
• The sci-fi universe Warhammer 40,000
• The free online multiplayer game OGame
• The Halo Video Game Series
• The Terminator movie series

[edit] See also

• Pulsed Energy Projectile, an experimental non-lethal weapon technology that involves emission of a laser pulse that creates a small amount of exploding plasma upon contact with the target
• Plasma torch
• Plasma rifle

[edit] References

1. ^ new scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7077
2. ^ new scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7077

[edit] External links

• Jane's Defence Weekly article [2]
• Plasma science and technology website [3]
• The Register criticizes US plans to make a plasma weapon [4]
• Russian plasma weapon[5]