Punch Coil Plasma Gun
Key apparatus in Davis's proposed ball lightning experiment. Connects to the broader plasma gun lineage from Bostick through MARAUDER.
01 Definition
02 Detailed_Analysis
The punch coil is a high-energy coil or air-core inductor through which a toroidal plasmoid passes to excite appropriate current modes. Davis's 2003 AFRL Ball Lightning Study proposed a modified punch coil plasma gun (Figure 2, page 17) for generating force-free time-harmonic plasmoids based on Nachamkin's model. The study was a proposal — no evidence of execution found.
03 Key_Facts
- ▸ Recognized in Koloc patent 1991
- ▸ Related to Marshall guns
- ▸ Davis proposed modified version 2003
- ▸ No evidence of execution
07 Related_Entities (12)
08 Timeline_Mentions (10)
Bostick coins 'plasmoid' at UC Livermore
Winston H. Bostick publishes 'Experimental Study of Ionized Matter Projected across a Magnetic Field' in Physical Review, coining the term 'plasmoid' for self-contained plasma-magnetic entities.
ResearchArmour Research Foundation begins Air Force plasmoid program
Armour Research Foundation begins Air Force-funded plasmoid research under Contract AF 33(616)-5791, titled 'Research in the Measurements and Theory of Plasmoids and their Applications to Missiles and
Military ProgramRadio-Electronics reports AF plasmoid missile defense program
December 1960 Radio-Electronics magazine publishes 'Ball Lightning for Defense?' stating: 'Electronic fireballs of highly concentrated charged particles (plasma) might be used to destroy missiles... T
DisclosureAerojet delivers 'Investigation of Pulsed-Train Plasmoid Weapons' final report (AD339084) — SECRET with RESTRICTED DATA
Aerojet-General Corporation completes final report AF08(635)-1671 under Air Force contract, catalogued at DTIC as AD339084. Born SECRET with bracketed paragraphs identified as RESTRICTED DATA (Atomic
Military ProgramLASL Fast Liner Experiment
LASL Fast Liner Experiment using magnetically imploded aluminum liners. Direct precursor to FRCHX and CFS-NM SLC. Also used coaxial plasma gun for injection.
Fusion PhysicsLLNL Beta II Compact Toroid Experiment
LLNL Beta II compact toroid experiment using coaxial plasma gun with LASL features. Second link in three-lab lineage: LANL (CTX) → LLNL (Beta II) → AFRL (MARAUDER).
Fusion PhysicsLANL CTX Spheromak Experiment
LANL CTX using magnetized coaxial plasma gun to generate spheromaks. Foundational node of the three-lab compact toroid lineage.
Fusion PhysicsReagan launches SDI — Shiva Star re-directed to 'Star Wars'
SDI directed energy: x-ray laser, FEL, NPB, Brilliant Pebbles. Shiva Star → MARAUDER precursor.
defense-programsMARAUDER program begins — AFRL fires compact toroid plasmoids as weapons
Shiva Star facility. 100 billion g acceleration. Explicitly NOT fusion. Same facility as FRCHX. The critical link.
defense-programsAvramenko publishes erosion-discharge autonomous plasmoids (ZhTF)
Avramenko et al. report self-confined autonomous plasmoids with ball-lightning-like properties created by erosion discharge in a dielectric-walled cylindrical channel (ZhTF 1990; translation Sov. Phys
Plasma Physics09 FAQ
What is Punch Coil Plasma Gun? ▾
Why does Punch Coil Plasma Gun matter? ▾
When did Punch Coil Plasma Gun appear in the research timeline? ▾
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Quick_Facts
- Category
- Technology
- Aliases
- Punch Coil Plasma Gun, punch-coil-plasma-gun, punch coil, punch-coil gun
- Sources
- 2
- Graph Entities
- 12
- Timeline Events
- 10