Neutron Charge Weapons: Difference between revisions
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While artifacts similar to neutron charge weapons have been found and recognised in pre-Silence records stretching back to antiquity, the modern form - | Neutron charge weapons are low-energy hypervelocity ballistic weapons designed to fire unshielded microfusion explosives, employed for their high accuracy, long range, and shield-defeating capabilities. Anti-personnel weapons of this type operate primarily via acute whole-body radiation exposure, causing nausea, severe nervous system dysfunction, and near-certain death if not stabilized within minutes. Use of handheld neutron charge weapons in war is condemned as a war crime by virtually all governments, but examples - most often, those types manufactured by [[Sialumh Heavy Industries#SHIASD|SHIASD]] - often find themselves in the hands of mercenaries and brigands. | ||
Anti-ship neutron charge weapons, despite being incapable of defeating most hostile-environment crew shielding arrangements without severe hull damage, are still capable weapons when deployed en masse - the flood of penetrating radiation causes deep thermal damage which cannot be mitigated using ablative or spaced armour arrangements, and damages sensor and computer systems such that defending against other weapon types becomes difficult. Small craft are particularly vulnerable, making these weapons a favorite of anti-piracy operations along the East Wendingways outskirts. | |||
While artifacts similar to neutron charge weapons have been found and recognised in pre-Silence records stretching back to antiquity, the modern form - an evolution of conventional plasma weapons and ballistics - is unrelated, having arisen independently in the Kamma Reef, Mal Pacifica, and Haelo Astrae shortly after the development of [[fusion dust]] in the 2340s. | |||
== Design == | |||
Neutron charge weapons are primarily constrained by two measures: the size of the imploding projectile, and the impact velocity of the projectile, which provides the energy to kickstart the fusion reaction. Velocities of at least 10 km/s are typically required to correctly detonate a neutron charge projectile, which itself contains a number of arcanokinetic focusing lenses throughout. Reaction efficiency varies, but typically sits between 2-3%; measures have been taken to improve this metric, but matters of expense, manufacturing difficulty, and radiotoxicity have so far stymied most. | |||
=== Launcher === | |||
Neutron charge launchers, due to the requirement for such high velocity with solid projectiles, are seldom based on conventional chemical, rail, or even coil propulsion technology. The high complexity and small size of the projectile precludes the inclusion of efficient armatures, and the extreme acceleration required outpaces conventional chemical propulsion. | |||
Revision as of 21:12, 13 January 2022
return to (Index of Technologies)
Neutron charge weapons are low-energy hypervelocity ballistic weapons designed to fire unshielded microfusion explosives, employed for their high accuracy, long range, and shield-defeating capabilities. Anti-personnel weapons of this type operate primarily via acute whole-body radiation exposure, causing nausea, severe nervous system dysfunction, and near-certain death if not stabilized within minutes. Use of handheld neutron charge weapons in war is condemned as a war crime by virtually all governments, but examples - most often, those types manufactured by SHIASD - often find themselves in the hands of mercenaries and brigands.
Anti-ship neutron charge weapons, despite being incapable of defeating most hostile-environment crew shielding arrangements without severe hull damage, are still capable weapons when deployed en masse - the flood of penetrating radiation causes deep thermal damage which cannot be mitigated using ablative or spaced armour arrangements, and damages sensor and computer systems such that defending against other weapon types becomes difficult. Small craft are particularly vulnerable, making these weapons a favorite of anti-piracy operations along the East Wendingways outskirts.
While artifacts similar to neutron charge weapons have been found and recognised in pre-Silence records stretching back to antiquity, the modern form - an evolution of conventional plasma weapons and ballistics - is unrelated, having arisen independently in the Kamma Reef, Mal Pacifica, and Haelo Astrae shortly after the development of fusion dust in the 2340s.
Design
Neutron charge weapons are primarily constrained by two measures: the size of the imploding projectile, and the impact velocity of the projectile, which provides the energy to kickstart the fusion reaction. Velocities of at least 10 km/s are typically required to correctly detonate a neutron charge projectile, which itself contains a number of arcanokinetic focusing lenses throughout. Reaction efficiency varies, but typically sits between 2-3%; measures have been taken to improve this metric, but matters of expense, manufacturing difficulty, and radiotoxicity have so far stymied most.
Launcher
Neutron charge launchers, due to the requirement for such high velocity with solid projectiles, are seldom based on conventional chemical, rail, or even coil propulsion technology. The high complexity and small size of the projectile precludes the inclusion of efficient armatures, and the extreme acceleration required outpaces conventional chemical propulsion.
