Phased plasma gun

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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.[1] 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[citation needed] 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 [2] was seen during the original
series. The Assassins PPG was also seen during the original series.
And the Crusades Version [3] which was seen in the short lived
Babylon 5: Crusades mini series.

[edit] Similar weapons in other fiction

In the film The Terminator, the eponymous character played by

Arnold Schwarzenegger goes to a gun shop in 1984 LA and
requests "...the 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 weapons is at the depot.

In Aliens, another Cameron film, "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.