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[[File:HTMCC-HR PlasmaWeaponry.png|350px|thumb|A [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili Officer|Officer]] firing a [[Nakata'vho-pattern plasma repeater|plasma repeater]] and an [[Unggoy]] [[Unggoy Major|Major]] firing an [[Eos'Mak-pattern plasma pistol|plasma pistol]] in [[Visegrád]].]]
{{Cleanup}}
'''Plasma weaponry''' refers to [[directed energy weapon]]s that utilise [[plasma]] to do damage to a target. [[Covenant]] [[Covenant military|military]] forces use plasma in weapons to great effect.


'''Plasma Weaponry''' refers to [[Directed Energy Weapon]]ry that uses [[Plasma]]. The [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] employ always follows a distinct pattern regardless of the specific gun; it is stabilized using magnetic fields. Without the field, the plasma dissipates too quickly to be of any real use. The field controls and contains the plasma, without interfering with firing. The [[plasma sword]] is an example of this technology, as the magnetic field holds the blade together while allowing it to cut through objects. This is also how the [[plasma pistol]]'s overcharge shot works. A small magnetic generator is installed in the hilt of the pistol and, when fired, the bolt tracks its target using a very simple motion tracking system built into the magnetic generator which alters the field to make the plasma move. A larger version of this effect is seen in the plasma torpedoes of Covenant cruisers.
==Operation==
Plasma weapons contain and guide the plasma in the form of a single bolt, beam, or continuous stream. Plasma is stabilized using magnetic fields. Without the field, the plasma dissipates too quickly to be of any real use. The field controls and contains the plasma, without interfering with firing. The [[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword|energy sword]] is an example of this technology, as the magnetic field holds the blade together while allowing it to cut through objects.


This information was obtained by [[Cortana]], a [[UNSC]] [[AI]], while she was in direct contact with a Covenant ship's data core.<ref>''[[Halo: First Strike]]''</ref>
This is also how the [[plasma pistol]]'s overcharge shot works: A small magnetic generator is installed in the hilt of the pistol and, when fired, the bolt tracks its target using a very simple motion tracking system built into the magnetic generator which alters the field to make the plasma move. A larger version of this effect is seen in the [[plasma torpedo]]es used by Covenant [[capital ship]]s.


==Defense against plasma weaponry==
Complete armor protection against plasma is generally difficult to accomplish due to plasma's high damage ratio. The [[M52B body armor|armor]] used by the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] and [[UNSC Army]] usually provides good protection from plasma, but only to a certain extent. A series of hits from a plasma weapon will literally melt or burn the armor, rendering it useless. Likewise, the [[Spartan]]s' [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR armor]] will eventually give way to the plasma. Newer versions of the MJOLNIR armor boast [[Energy shielding#Human energy shielding|energy shields]], which provide additional protection from plasma, although shielding systems can be completely depleted by sustained plasma fire, or a single, overcharged bolt.


The armor of neither Covenant nor UNSC warships provides significant protection against plasma, which will melt through the hulls of both. The flame caused by a Seraph  fighters’ plasma charge have a temperature of approximately 3,000 degrees Celsius,<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 17''</ref> while [[titanium]], a key component of UNSC ship armor, has a melting point of 1668 degrees Celsius.{{Ref/Note|There is a difference between baseline titanium and [[Titanium-A armor|Titanium-A]], an augmented form of titanium, used in UNSC starship armor. This along with the fact that Titanium-A armor is sometimes layered with [[tungsten]] (which has a melting point of 3,422 °C) means that the melting point of their starship armor is higher than that of conventional titanium.}} In all encounters with Covenant ships, plasma-based weaponry has melted through and disabled UNSC ships in a matter of seconds.


==Artificial Plasma Generation==
==Applications==
Plasma-based weapons are the most common armament of Covenant infantry and vehicular forces, and the main armament of their warships, dominating almost their entire weapon arsenal. Small arms are designed to deplete [[shielding]] or melt infantry armor, while heavier weapons can destroy vehicles or buildings. The largest are mounted onto capital ships and are used for [[glassing|orbital bombardment]] and ship-to-ship combat, and can reduce a ship's hull to a pile of molten metal floating in space. When a plasma weapon is charging, a high quantity of beta particle radiation is emitted.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 147''</ref> Covenant species have developed a natural resistance against the radiation emitted by their plasma weapons, a form of "forced evolution". During the [[Human-Covenant War]], UNSC scientists studied this phenomenon in an attempt to use it to their advantage, such as helping in the treatment of plasma burns on humans.<ref>'''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''', "[[The Mona Lisa]]", ''page 305''</ref>


To completely describe the state of a plasma, we would need to write down all the
The [[UNSC]] has yet to develop its own plasma weaponry, instead using more conventional projectile-based weapon systems. However, the UNSC has been seen to operate captured Covenant plasma weapons, and in one case, UNSC forces were able to dramatically improve the lethality of a [[Ascendant Justice|captured Covenant starship's]] [[plasma turret]]s without significant technical modifications.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]'''</ref> There was an attempt to produce a [[M-145D Rhino|tank]] with plasma-based weaponry for the [[UNSCDF|UNSC armed services]], but it was abandoned, falling back on projectile weaponry.<ref>'''[[Halo Wars]]'''</ref>
particle locations and velocities and describe the electromagnetic field in the plasma region.
However, it is generally not practical or necessary to keep track of all the particles in a plasma.
Therefore, plasma physicists commonly use less detailed descriptions, of which
there are two main types:


===Fluid model===
==List of plasma weapons==
Fluid models describe plasmas in terms of smoothed quantities, like density and averaged velocity around each position (see [[Plasma parameters]]). One simple fluid model, [[magnetohydrodynamics]], treats the plasma as a single fluid governed by a combination of [[Maxwell's equations]] and the [[Navier–Stokes equations]]. A more general description is the [[two-fluid plasma]] picture, where the ions and electrons are described separately. Fluid models are often accurate when collisionality is sufficiently high to keep the plasma velocity distribution close to a [[Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution]]. Because fluid models usually describe the plasma in terms of a single flow at a certain temperature at each spatial location, they can neither capture velocity space structures like beams or [[double layer]]s, nor resolve wave-particle effects.
=== Starship weapons ===
*[[Plasma torpedo]]  
*[[Plasma cannon (starship)|Plasma cannon]]
*[[Plasma charge]]
*[[Energy projector]]


===Kinetic model===
=== Mounted weapons ===
Kinetic models describe the particle velocity distribution function at each point in the plasma and therefore do not need to assume a [[Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution]]. A kinetic description is often necessary for collisionless plasmas. There are two common approaches to kinetic description of a plasma. One is based on representing the smoothed distribution function on a grid in velocity and position. The other, known as the [[particle-in-cell]] (PIC) technique, includes kinetic information by following the trajectories of a large number of individual particles. Kinetic models are generally more computationally intensive than fluid models. The [[Vlasov equation]] may be used to describe the dynamics of a system of charged particles interacting with an electromagnetic field.
*[[Focus cannon]]
In magnetized plasmas, a [[gyrokinetics|gyrokinetic]] approach can substantially reduce the computational expense of a fully kinetic simulation.
*[[Plasma cannon]]
**[[Class-1 directed energy cannon]]
***{{Pattern|Pek|plasma cannon}}
***{{Pattern|Shepsu|plasma cannon}}
***{{Pattern|Shea'p|plasma cannon}}
**[[Class-2 directed energy cannon]]
**[[Heavy plasma cannon]]
***''Murien''-pattern
***''Tevaas Mu''-pattern
*[[Plasma mortar]]
*[[Shade]]
**{{Pattern|Rizsheda|Shade}}
**{{Pattern|Eeo'Pimu|Shade}}
**{{Pattern|Mamua'uda|Shade}}
**{{Pattern|Preksheda|Shade}}
**{{Pattern|Sho'riru|Shade}}
**{{Pattern|Bmur'resh|Shade}}
**[[Bolroci Workshop Shade]]
*{{Pattern|Cheru|Tyrant}}
*{{Pattern|Skar'wa|Mantis}}
*[[XM4600 Zeus plasma munition howitzer]]


=== Handheld weapons ===
*[[Energy sword (fiction)|Energy sword]]
**{{Pattern|Pelosus|energy sword}}
**{{Pattern|Domotos|energy sword}}
**{{Pattern|Meluth'qelos|energy sword}}
**{{Pattern|Zokotus|energy sword}}
**[[Unidentified energy sword pattern]]
*[[Plasma pistol]]
**{{Pattern|Eos'mak|plasma pistol}}
**{{Pattern|Zo'klada|plasma pistol}}
**{{Pattern|Rohakadu|plasma pistol}}
*[[Plasma rifle]]
**{{Pattern|Okarda'phaa|plasma rifle}}
**{{Pattern|Kewu R'shi'k|plasma rifle}}
**{{Pattern|Nakata'vho|plasma repeater}}
*{{Pattern|Tufasumo|plasma caster}}
*{{Pattern|Kopasa'mada|plasma launcher}}
*{{Pattern|Erudo'ma'keth|pulse carbine}}
*[[Veporokk Workshop Ravager]]
*{{Pattern|Elutuzem|stalker rifle}}
*{{Pattern|Kelos'vaarda|storm rifle}}


Most artificial plasmas are generated by the application of electric and/or magnetic fields. Plasma generated in a laboratory setting and for industrial use can be generally categorized by:
=== Explosives ===
*The type of power source used to generate the plasma; DC, RF and microwave.
*{{Pattern|Anskum|plasma grenade}}
*The pressure at which they operate; vacuum pressure (< 10&nbsp;mTorr or 1 Pa), moderate pressure (~ 1&nbsp;Torr or 100 Pa), atmospheric pressure (760&nbsp;Torr or 100 kPa).
*The degree of ionization within the plasma; fully ionized, partially ionized, weakly ionized.
*The temperature relationships within the plasma: thermal plasma (''T<sub>e</sub>''&nbsp;= ''T''<sub>ion</sub>&nbsp;= ''T''<sub>gas</sub>), non-thermal or "cold" plasma (''T<sub>e</sub>''&nbsp;>> ''T''<sub>ion</sub>&nbsp;= ''T''<sub>gas</sub>)
*The electrode configuration used to generate the plasma.
*The magnetization of the particles within the plasma; Magnetized (both ion and electrons are trapped in [[Gyroradius|Larmor orbits]] by the magnetic field), partially magnetized (the electrons but not the ions are trapped by the magnetic field), non-magnetized (the magnetic field is too weak to trap the particles in orbits but may generate [[Lorentz force]]s).
*Its application


==Trivia==
Frank O'Connor, Bungie's former head of public relations, stated in 2006 that the plasma used by the Covenant is not plasma as current science knows it, but something "far more dangerous, arcane, and destructive."{{Ref/Site|URL=http://forums.bungie.org/halo/archive25.pl?read=743326|Site=halo.bungie.org|Page=Re: Could Covenant Plasma weapons be disrupted?|D=26|M=3|Y=2023}} This claim has not been elaborated on in later sources and some actually indicate otherwise, with ''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]'' specifically making a note that the Covenant used conventional plasma in imitation of Forerunner particle weaponry.{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=103}}


==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}


====Low-pressure discharges====
==Sources==
*''[[Glow discharge]] plasmas'': non-thermal plasmas generated by the application of DC or low frequency RF (<100&nbsp;kHz) electric field to the gap between two metal electrodes. Probably the most common plasma; this is the type of plasma generated within [[fluorescent light]] tubes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/wfluor.html |title=The Fluorescent Lamp: A plasma you can use. |author=Dr. David P. Stern |accessdate=2010-05-19}}</ref>
{{Ref/Sources}}
*''[[Capacitively coupled plasma]] (CCP)'': similar to glow discharge plasmas, but generated with high frequency RF electric fields, typically 13.56&nbsp;MHz. These differ from glow discharges in that the sheaths are much less intense. These are widely used in the microfabrication and integrated circuit manufacturing industries for plasma etching and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Sobolewski |first1=M.A. |last2=Langan & Felker |first2=J.G. & B.S. |year=1997 |title=Electrical optimization of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition chamber cleaning plasmas |publisher=J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=173-182 |url=http://physics.nist.gov/MajResProj/rfcell/Publications/MAS_JVSTB16_1.pdf |}}</ref>
*''[[Inductively coupled plasma]] (ICP)'': similar to a CCP and with similar applications but the electrode consists of a coil wrapped around the discharge volume which inductively excites the plasma.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
*''[[Wave heated plasma]]'': similar to CCP and ICP in that it is typically RF (or microwave), but is heated by both electrostatic and electromagnetic means. Examples are [[helicon discharge]], [[electron cyclotron resonance]] (ECR), and [[ion cyclotron resonance]] (ICR). These typically require a coaxial magnetic field for wave propagation.{{Citation needed|date=August 2008}}
 
====Atmospheric pressure====
*''[[Arc discharge]]:'' this is a high power thermal discharge of very high temperature (~10,000 K). It can be generated using various power supplies. It is commonly used in [[Metallurgy|metallurgical]] processes. For example, it is used to melt rocks containing Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> to produce [[aluminium]].
*''[[Corona discharge]]:'' this is a non-thermal discharge generated by the application of high voltage to sharp electrode tips. It is commonly used in [[ozone]] generators and particle precipitators.
*''[[Dielectric barrier discharge]] (DBD):'' this is a non-thermal discharge generated by the application of high voltages across small gaps wherein a non-conducting coating prevents the transition of the plasma discharge into an arc. It is often mislabeled 'Corona' discharge in industry and has similar application to corona discharges. It is also widely used in the web treatment of fabrics.<ref>{{cite journal|author=F. Leroux et al. |title=Atmospheric air plasma treatments of polyester textile structures|journal=Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology|volume=20|pages=939–957|year=2006|doi=10.1163/156856106777657788}}</ref> The application of the discharge to synthetic fabrics and plastics functionalizes the surface and allows for paints, glues and similar materials to adhere.<ref>{{cite journal|author=F. Leroux et al.|doi=10.1016/j.jcis.2008.09.062|title=Polypropylene film chemical and physical modifications by dielectric barrier discharge plasma treatment at atmospheric pressure|year=2008|journal=Journal of Colloid and Interface Science|volume=328|pages=412|pmid=18930244|issue=2}}</ref>
*''[[Capacitive discharge]]:'' this is a [[nonthermal plasma]] generated by the application of RF power (e.g., 13.56&nbsp;MHz) to one powered electrode, with a grounded electrode held at a small separation distance on the order of 1&nbsp;cm. Such discharges are commonly stabilized using a noble gas such as helium or argon
 


 
[[Category:Plasma weapons| ]]
== Starship Weaponry ==
[[Category:Directed-energy weapons]]
*[[Plasma Torpedo]]
*[[Plasma Turret]]
*[[Plasma Charge]]
 
== Ground Weaponry ==
=== Mounted Weapons ===
*[[Anti-Aircraft Battery]]
*[[Plasma Beam]]
*[[Plasma Mortar]]
*[[Twin Plasma Cannons]]
*[[Type-26 Anti-Infantry Stationary Gun]]
*[[Type-42 Directed Energy Support Weapon]]
*[[Type-52 Directed Energy Support Weapon]]
*Prototype UNSC plasma artillery on the [[M-145D Rhino]]
 
=== Handheld Weapons ===
*[[Type-1 Energy Weapon/Sword]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Pistol]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle]]
*[[Type-25 Directed Energy Rifle/Jiralhanae Variant]]
*[[Type-51 Directed Energy Rifle/Improved]]
*[[Type-52 Guided Munitions Launcher/Explosive]]
 
=== Explosives ===
*[[Plasma Grenade]]
 
==Sources==
<references/>
[[Category:The Covenant]]
[[Category:Technology]]
[[Category:Weapons]]

Latest revision as of 12:21, August 11, 2023

A Sangheili Officer firing a Nakata'vho-pattern plasma repeater and an Unggoy Major firing an Eos'Mak-pattern plasma pistol in Visegrád. From Halo: Reach campaign level Winter Contingency.
A Sangheili Officer firing a plasma repeater and an Unggoy Major firing an plasma pistol in Visegrád.

Plasma weaponry refers to directed energy weapons that utilise plasma to do damage to a target. Covenant military forces use plasma in weapons to great effect.

Operation[edit]

Plasma weapons contain and guide the plasma in the form of a single bolt, beam, or continuous stream. Plasma is stabilized using magnetic fields. Without the field, the plasma dissipates too quickly to be of any real use. The field controls and contains the plasma, without interfering with firing. The energy sword is an example of this technology, as the magnetic field holds the blade together while allowing it to cut through objects.

This is also how the plasma pistol's overcharge shot works: A small magnetic generator is installed in the hilt of the pistol and, when fired, the bolt tracks its target using a very simple motion tracking system built into the magnetic generator which alters the field to make the plasma move. A larger version of this effect is seen in the plasma torpedoes used by Covenant capital ships.

Defense against plasma weaponry[edit]

Complete armor protection against plasma is generally difficult to accomplish due to plasma's high damage ratio. The armor used by the UNSC Marine Corps and UNSC Army usually provides good protection from plasma, but only to a certain extent. A series of hits from a plasma weapon will literally melt or burn the armor, rendering it useless. Likewise, the Spartans' MJOLNIR armor will eventually give way to the plasma. Newer versions of the MJOLNIR armor boast energy shields, which provide additional protection from plasma, although shielding systems can be completely depleted by sustained plasma fire, or a single, overcharged bolt.

The armor of neither Covenant nor UNSC warships provides significant protection against plasma, which will melt through the hulls of both. The flame caused by a Seraph fighters’ plasma charge have a temperature of approximately 3,000 degrees Celsius,[1] while titanium, a key component of UNSC ship armor, has a melting point of 1668 degrees Celsius.[Note 1] In all encounters with Covenant ships, plasma-based weaponry has melted through and disabled UNSC ships in a matter of seconds.

Applications[edit]

Plasma-based weapons are the most common armament of Covenant infantry and vehicular forces, and the main armament of their warships, dominating almost their entire weapon arsenal. Small arms are designed to deplete shielding or melt infantry armor, while heavier weapons can destroy vehicles or buildings. The largest are mounted onto capital ships and are used for orbital bombardment and ship-to-ship combat, and can reduce a ship's hull to a pile of molten metal floating in space. When a plasma weapon is charging, a high quantity of beta particle radiation is emitted.[2] Covenant species have developed a natural resistance against the radiation emitted by their plasma weapons, a form of "forced evolution". During the Human-Covenant War, UNSC scientists studied this phenomenon in an attempt to use it to their advantage, such as helping in the treatment of plasma burns on humans.[3]

The UNSC has yet to develop its own plasma weaponry, instead using more conventional projectile-based weapon systems. However, the UNSC has been seen to operate captured Covenant plasma weapons, and in one case, UNSC forces were able to dramatically improve the lethality of a captured Covenant starship's plasma turrets without significant technical modifications.[4] There was an attempt to produce a tank with plasma-based weaponry for the UNSC armed services, but it was abandoned, falling back on projectile weaponry.[5]

List of plasma weapons[edit]

Starship weapons[edit]

Mounted weapons[edit]

Handheld weapons[edit]

Explosives[edit]

Trivia[edit]

Frank O'Connor, Bungie's former head of public relations, stated in 2006 that the plasma used by the Covenant is not plasma as current science knows it, but something "far more dangerous, arcane, and destructive."[6] This claim has not been elaborated on in later sources and some actually indicate otherwise, with Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide specifically making a note that the Covenant used conventional plasma in imitation of Forerunner particle weaponry.[7]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ There is a difference between baseline titanium and Titanium-A, an augmented form of titanium, used in UNSC starship armor. This along with the fact that Titanium-A armor is sometimes layered with tungsten (which has a melting point of 3,422 °C) means that the melting point of their starship armor is higher than that of conventional titanium.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 17
  2. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 147
  3. ^ Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe, "The Mona Lisa", page 305
  4. ^ Halo: First Strike
  5. ^ Halo Wars
  6. ^ halo.bungie.org, Re: Could Covenant Plasma weapons be disrupted? (Retrieved on Mar 26, 2023) [archive]
  7. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 103
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