Phased plasma gun
Encyclopedia
The Phased Plasma Gun (or PPG) is a fictional weapon from the television series Babylon 5
. It fires a small charge of superheated helium. This gas retains both its shape and small volume via a residual magnetic field. Upon impact with an object, the magnetic field is dissipated and the heat discharged. PPG bolts cause significant visible distortion as they travel through air.
The PPG is composed only of highly heat-resistant alloys, due to the rapid and extreme heating and cooling that it must endure during regular use. One of these alloys is morbidium. A line in the Babylon 5 episode "Chrysalis
" states that it is a metal that is harder than diamond. The electromagnetic firing coil is composed of morbidium, and has the gun's serial number printed on it, so that PPGs are just as traceable as modern guns. PPGs make a distinctive charging sound when they are armed for firing, and they are powered by compact energy sources called energy caps. Two models are most commonly seen in the series: a handgun-type that is the standard EarthForce sidearm, and a more-powerful assault-rifle-type used by security personnel in emergencies.
Even though PPGs are more expensive to produce than normal projectile weapons ("slug-throwers"), they are the standard-issue military sidearm for space-based personnel. While a stray bullet from a normal weapon can puncture the hull of a spacecraft or space station, causing unintended decompression, a PPG cannot penetrate most heavy bulkheads. A PPG shot may, however, burn through some materials. In several episodes, PPG shots were fired through the thin walls of air ducts in order to attack people inside.
In earlier episodes, where few shots were fired, plasma bursts were carefully generated and penetrated their targets. Later in the B5 series, when massive battles were staged, a shift into a lower quality CGI followed and the bursts tended to fade off as opposed to continuing through its target.
The Phased Plasma Gun (or PPG) was available in various configurations. The Standard PPG was seen during the original series. The Assassins PPG was also seen during the original series. And the Crusade Version which was seen in the short lived Babylon 5: Crusade mini series.
, the eponymous character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger
goes to a gun shop in 1984 LA and requests a "phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range," a weapon from its own time which can be seen being used by resistance fighters and terminators alike during the film's scenes of post "Judgment Day" conflict. A larger vehicle mounted version of this weapon appeared to have the power to violently rip a human body into several charred pieces upon impact. In the popular zynga games Mafia Wars
this weapon is at the depot.
In Aliens
, a film by James Cameron
, a "phased plasma pulse rifle" is a weapon that the excitable Private William Hudson (Played by Bill Paxton
), jokingly informs Ripley is part of the Marines arsenal (along with knives and sharp sticks). The scene takes place aboard the marine dropship and was omitted from the original version released to theaters. It can been seen in the film's Special Edition, which was first released in 1992 and then later in subsequent DVD box sets.
In the online role-playing game, EVE Online, "Phased Plasma" is a type of ammunition for projectile weapons (firearms) that does considerable thermal-type damage and some kinetic-type damage, described as an equivalent of the particle beam "blaster" built into a conventional artillery round.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
. It fires a small charge of superheated helium. This gas retains both its shape and small volume via a residual magnetic field. Upon impact with an object, the magnetic field is dissipated and the heat discharged. PPG bolts cause significant visible distortion as they travel through air.
The PPG is composed only of highly heat-resistant alloys, due to the rapid and extreme heating and cooling that it must endure during regular use. One of these alloys is morbidium. A line in the Babylon 5 episode "Chrysalis
Chrysalis (Babylon 5)
"Chrysalis" is the final episode of the first season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:Mollari and G'Kar argue about Quadrant 37....
" states that it is a metal that is harder than diamond. The electromagnetic firing coil is composed of morbidium, and has the gun's serial number printed on it, so that PPGs are just as traceable as modern guns. PPGs make a distinctive charging sound when they are armed for firing, and they are powered by compact energy sources called energy caps. Two models are most commonly seen in the series: a handgun-type that is the standard EarthForce sidearm, and a more-powerful assault-rifle-type used by security personnel in emergencies.
Even though PPGs are more expensive to produce than normal projectile weapons ("slug-throwers"), they are the standard-issue military sidearm for space-based personnel. While a stray bullet from a normal weapon can puncture the hull of a spacecraft or space station, causing unintended decompression, a PPG cannot penetrate most heavy bulkheads. A PPG shot may, however, burn through some materials. In several episodes, PPG shots were fired through the thin walls of air ducts in order to attack people inside.
In earlier episodes, where few shots were fired, plasma bursts were carefully generated and penetrated their targets. Later in the B5 series, when massive battles were staged, a shift into a lower quality CGI followed and the bursts tended to fade off as opposed to continuing through its target.
The Phased Plasma Gun (or PPG) was available in various configurations. The Standard PPG was seen during the original series. The Assassins PPG was also seen during the original series. And the Crusade Version which was seen in the short lived Babylon 5: Crusade mini series.
Similar weapons in other fiction
In the film The TerminatorThe Terminator
The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
, the eponymous character played by Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
goes to a gun shop in 1984 LA and requests a "phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range," a weapon from its own time which can be seen being used by resistance fighters and terminators alike during the film's scenes of post "Judgment Day" conflict. A larger vehicle mounted version of this weapon appeared to have the power to violently rip a human body into several charred pieces upon impact. In the popular zynga games Mafia Wars
Mafia Wars
Mafia Wars is a multiplayer Social network game created by Zynga.In Mafia Wars the gamers play as gangsters building their own mafia. The players fight other players online and complete tasks to gain rewards and strength in the game. The game is a freemium game, meaning it is free to play normally...
this weapon is at the depot.
In Aliens
Aliens (film)
Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
, a film by James Cameron
James Cameron
James Francis Cameron is a Canadian-American film director, film producer, screenwriter, editor, environmentalist and inventor...
, a "phased plasma pulse rifle" is a weapon that the excitable Private William Hudson (Played by Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
William "Bill" Paxton is an American actor and film director. He gained popularity after starring roles in the films Apollo 13, Twister, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic...
), jokingly informs Ripley is part of the Marines arsenal (along with knives and sharp sticks). The scene takes place aboard the marine dropship and was omitted from the original version released to theaters. It can been seen in the film's Special Edition, which was first released in 1992 and then later in subsequent DVD box sets.
In the online role-playing game, EVE Online, "Phased Plasma" is a type of ammunition for projectile weapons (firearms) that does considerable thermal-type damage and some kinetic-type damage, described as an equivalent of the particle beam "blaster" built into a conventional artillery round.
See also
- Leyden ballLeyden ballA Leyden ball is a fictional bullet used in a nineteenth century science fiction novel. It contains a capacitance charge of electrical energy, which discharges instantaneously upon the bullet's impact...
- Plasma riflePlasma rifleWhen discussing weapons in science fiction, a plasma weapon is a type of raygun that fires a stream, bolt, pulse or toroid of plasma...
- ID Sniper rifleID Sniper rifleThe ID Sniper rifle is an art project, a fictional, hoax weapon devised by Jakob Boeskov, a Danish artist and Danish industrial designer Kristian von Bengtson on a suggestion of Danish journalist Mads Brügger. The ID Sniper supposedly shoots GPS chips, and the police force may tag persons with...
- RaygunRaygunRayguns are a type of fictional directed-energy weapon. They have various alternate names: ray gun, death ray, beam gun, blaster, laser gun, phaser, etc. They are a well-known feature of science fiction; for such stories they typically have the general function of guns...
- BFG 9000BFG 9000The BFG 9000 is a futuristic weapon found in the video game series Doom. The BFG 9000 is a huge, solid metal gun that fires balls of green plasma. The most powerful weapon in the games, it is capable of destroying nearly any player or enemy in the vicinity with a single hit...
- Lasgun
- NeedlegunNeedlegunA needlegun, also known as a needler, flechette gun or fletcher, is a firearm that fires small, sometimes fin-stabilized, metal darts.-History:...