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| electron_beam_cannon [2026/02/05 23:06] – [History] mecham | electron_beam_cannon [2026/02/08 01:15] (current) – [History] mecham | ||
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| ==== Design ==== | ==== Design ==== | ||
| - | Electron Beam Cannons function by stripping electrons from a plasma cloud and then accelerating them to 99% the speed of light before projecting them out through an opening magnetically. Electron beams cause structural, electronic, and biological damage through immense heat and radiation on impact. | + | Electron Beam Cannons function by stripping electrons from a plasma cloud and then accelerating them to 99% the speed of light before projecting them out through an opening magnetically. Electron beams cause structural, electronic, and biological damage through immense heat and radiation on impact. Hydrogen plasma is typically used as the driving gas for the weapon system. |
| Due to the charged nature of electrons, the EBC has issues with dispersion which greatly limits its range. Despite this, since electrons weigh very little, they can be readily accelerated to relativistic velocities compared to their heavy neutron or proton beam counterparts. Furthermore, | Due to the charged nature of electrons, the EBC has issues with dispersion which greatly limits its range. Despite this, since electrons weigh very little, they can be readily accelerated to relativistic velocities compared to their heavy neutron or proton beam counterparts. Furthermore, | ||
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| EBCs were the product of early space warfare trials. Missiles had extreme range but were limited, slow, and expensive. Traditional kinetics had plentiful ammunition but had an engagement range in the scale of hundreds of kilometers. Lasers had long range but required high energy input and long burn times. The Electron Beam Cannon extended the effective range of kinetic weapons out to a light second with its relativistic speeds. | EBCs were the product of early space warfare trials. Missiles had extreme range but were limited, slow, and expensive. Traditional kinetics had plentiful ammunition but had an engagement range in the scale of hundreds of kilometers. Lasers had long range but required high energy input and long burn times. The Electron Beam Cannon extended the effective range of kinetic weapons out to a light second with its relativistic speeds. | ||
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| + | They were first used in [[war of the giants|The War of The Giants]] between Jovian and Saturnian colonies. Ships experienced moderate success but were still limited to engagements within the same sphere of influence. | ||
| Early starship designs incorporated EBCs into the spine of the ship, allowing it as much distance to accelerate as possible before exiting the barrel. Improvements with the EBC accelerator eventually resulted in an efficient compact cyclotron which allowed EBCs to be installed into turrets. | Early starship designs incorporated EBCs into the spine of the ship, allowing it as much distance to accelerate as possible before exiting the barrel. Improvements with the EBC accelerator eventually resulted in an efficient compact cyclotron which allowed EBCs to be installed into turrets. | ||