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Particle beam weapon: Difference between revisions

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{{Clear}}[[File:1209167946_Beamrifle.jpg|thumb|A [[Beam Rifle]], an example of a particle beam weapon.]]
{{Clear}}[[File:1209167946_Beamrifle.jpg|thumb|A [[Beam Rifle]], an example of a particle beam weapon.]]
A '''particle beam weapon''' is a type of [[directed energy weapon]] that uses an ultra high energy beam of atoms or electrons (i.e., a particle beam) to damage a material target by hitting it, and thus disrupting its atomic and molecular structure. A particle beam weapon is a type of directed-energy weapon which directs energy in a particular direction by a means of particle projectiles with mass. Some of these weapons are real or practicable; some are science fiction.


An electron particle beam weapon works by disrupting electric circuits and electronic devices in its targets. If any living animals or persons were to be caught by the electric discharge of an electron beam weapon, they would most likely be electrocuted. An electron beam weapon can also damage or melt its target by the electrical resistance heating of the target.
A '''particle beam weapon''' is a type of [[directed energy weapon]] that uses an ultra-high energy beam of atoms or electrons to damage a target by disrupting its atomic and molecular structure.  


==Beam generation==
==Beam generation==
A neutral particle beam weapon ionizes hydrogen gas by either stripping an electron off of each hydrogen atom, or by allowing each hydrogen atom to capture an extra electron. When hydrogen gains electrons it forms anions; when hydrogen atoms lose electrons they form cations. A particle beam weapon that accelerates anions uses a traveling wave type particle accelerator. In this kind of ion accelerator, the negative ions are released inside a cylindrical ion acceleration chamber. This chamber has an electrode with an alternating electric charge of up to 1,000,000,000 (109) volts inside it.{{citation needed}} This is a theoretical weapon.
A neutral particle beam weapon ionizes hydrogen gas by either stripping an electron off of each hydrogen atom, or by allowing each hydrogen atom to capture an extra electron. When hydrogen gains electrons it forms negative ions (''anions''); when hydrogen atoms lose electrons they form positive ions (''cations''). A particle beam weapon that accelerates anions uses a traveling-wave type particle accelerator. In this kind of accelerator, the negative ions are released inside a cylindrical ion acceleration chamber. This chamber has an electrode with an alternating electric charge of up to 1,000,000,000 volts inside it.{{citation needed}}


These stages happen:-
The firing process contains the following stages:


# While the charge on the electrode is positive, the ions are attracted to the negative charge on the electrode, and thus bunched around it.
# While the charge on the electrode is positive, the ions are attracted to the negative charge on the electrode, and thus bunched around it.
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# The resulting high energy beam of anions passes through a chamber filled with low pressure gas.
# The resulting high energy beam of anions passes through a chamber filled with low pressure gas.
# There, collisions with the gas strip the extra electrons from the anions, and thus make the particle beam neutral.
# There, collisions with the gas strip the extra electrons from the anions, and thus make the particle beam neutral.
# The particle beam proceeds straight to its target, and damages it by running into it, and by disrupting the structure of the target with its kinetic energy.
# The particle beam proceeds straight to its target, and damages it by disrupting its molecular structure with kinetic energy.


Cyclotron particle accelerators, linear particle accelerators, and synchroton particle acclerators can accelerate positively charged hydrogen ions until their velocity approaches the speed of light, and each individual ion has a kinetic energy range of 100 MeV to 1000 MeV or more. Then the resulting high energy protons can capture electrons from electron emitter electrodes, and be thus electrically neutralized. This creates an electrically neutral beam of high energy hydrogen atoms, that can proceed straight line at near the velocity of light to zap its target and thus damage it.{{citation needed}}
Cyclotron particle accelerators, linear particle accelerators, and synchroton particle acclerators can accelerate positively charged hydrogen ions until their velocity approaches the speed of light, and each individual ion has a kinetic energy range of 100-1000 megavolts or more. The resulting high-energy protons capture electrons from electron emitter electrodes, and are thus electrically neutralized. This creates an neutral beam of high-energy hydrogen atoms that can proceed at nearly the speed of light to strike a target.{{citation needed}}


The pulsed particle beam emitted by a particle beam weapon may contain up to 1 gigajoule of kinetic energy or more. The speed of a beam approaching the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) in combination with the energy created by the weapon would negate any realistic means of defending a target against the beam. Target hardening through shielding or materials selection would be impractical or ineffective, especially if the beam can be generated successfully and pointed at the target.
The pulsed particle beam emitted by a particle beam weapon may contain up to 1 gigajoule of kinetic energy or more. The speed of a beam approaching the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) in combination with the energy created by the weapon would negate any realistic means of defending a target against the beam.


==Known particle beam weapons==
==Known particle beam weapons==
So far, even though humans have an understanding of this technology only the [[Covenant]] have shown an adeptness at using practical particle beam weapons, equipping their larger warships with [[energy projector]]s capable of devastating shots, and using the far smaller [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System]] as a high-accuracy anti-personnel weapon.
So far, even though the [[UNSC]] has an understanding of this technology, only the [[Covenant]] have shown the technological aptitude to engineer practical particle beam weapons, equipping their larger warships with [[energy projector]]s capable of dealing tremendous damage to ships and planets, and using the far smaller [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System]] as a high-accuracy anti-personnel weapon.


The [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel Beam]] is a particle beam weapon which fires a stream of superheated, negatively-charged ions.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 168''</ref> This technology was reverse-engineered by the Covenant in form of the [[Type-52 Special Applications Rifle]].<ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 71''</ref>
The [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel Beam]] is a particle beam weapon which fires a stream of superheated, negatively-charged ions.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 168''</ref> This technology was reverse-engineered by the Covenant in form of the [[Type-52 Special Applications Rifle]].<ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 71''</ref> The Forerunners also used particle-based weaponry such as the [[Binary Rifle]].


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==

Revision as of 13:30, September 12, 2012

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 This article does not have enough inline citations and/or does not adhere to the proper citation format. You can help Halopedia by adding citations.
For the Particle Beam Rifle, see here.
File:1209167946 Beamrifle.jpg
A Beam Rifle, an example of a particle beam weapon.

A particle beam weapon is a type of directed energy weapon that uses an ultra-high energy beam of atoms or electrons to damage a target by disrupting its atomic and molecular structure.

Beam generation

A neutral particle beam weapon ionizes hydrogen gas by either stripping an electron off of each hydrogen atom, or by allowing each hydrogen atom to capture an extra electron. When hydrogen gains electrons it forms negative ions (anions); when hydrogen atoms lose electrons they form positive ions (cations). A particle beam weapon that accelerates anions uses a traveling-wave type particle accelerator. In this kind of accelerator, the negative ions are released inside a cylindrical ion acceleration chamber. This chamber has an electrode with an alternating electric charge of up to 1,000,000,000 volts inside it.[citation needed]

The firing process contains the following stages:

  1. While the charge on the electrode is positive, the ions are attracted to the negative charge on the electrode, and thus bunched around it.
  2. The alternating voltage switches the charge to negative on the accelerating electrode.
  3. The negative charge electrostatically repels the negative ions and accelerates them to near the velocity of light.
  4. The resulting high energy beam of anions passes through a chamber filled with low pressure gas.
  5. There, collisions with the gas strip the extra electrons from the anions, and thus make the particle beam neutral.
  6. The particle beam proceeds straight to its target, and damages it by disrupting its molecular structure with kinetic energy.

Cyclotron particle accelerators, linear particle accelerators, and synchroton particle acclerators can accelerate positively charged hydrogen ions until their velocity approaches the speed of light, and each individual ion has a kinetic energy range of 100-1000 megavolts or more. The resulting high-energy protons capture electrons from electron emitter electrodes, and are thus electrically neutralized. This creates an neutral beam of high-energy hydrogen atoms that can proceed at nearly the speed of light to strike a target.[citation needed]

The pulsed particle beam emitted by a particle beam weapon may contain up to 1 gigajoule of kinetic energy or more. The speed of a beam approaching the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) in combination with the energy created by the weapon would negate any realistic means of defending a target against the beam.

Known particle beam weapons

So far, even though the UNSC has an understanding of this technology, only the Covenant have shown the technological aptitude to engineer practical particle beam weapons, equipping their larger warships with energy projectors capable of dealing tremendous damage to ships and planets, and using the far smaller Type-50 Sniper Rifle System as a high-accuracy anti-personnel weapon.

The Forerunner Sentinel Beam is a particle beam weapon which fires a stream of superheated, negatively-charged ions.[1] This technology was reverse-engineered by the Covenant in form of the Type-52 Special Applications Rifle.[2] The Forerunners also used particle-based weaponry such as the Binary Rifle.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 168
  2. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 71
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