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)
Reagan 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 plasmoid ABM system revealed — Russian plasma weapons
Plasmoid ABM. Yeltsin proposed joint test to Clinton. Russian and US patents exist.
defense-programsMARAUDER (August 1993): USAF compact toroid weapon, 100 billion g acceleration, Shiva Star, went dark mid-1990s
USAF Phillips Lab compact toroid weapon. 100 billion g acceleration. 9.5 MJ Shiva Star. 'Not a fusion program' — weapons. Physics identical to FRC. Went dark mid-1990s. Lineage: SHIVA I → MARAUDER → F
uap-researchAvramenko plasmoid weapon (April 1995): Russian plasma ABM tested, Ogonek/Belitsky DTIC document, 'Doverie' experiment proposed
Russian plasma weapon tested. Phased arrays focus 10 MW at 50 km altitude. Projectile deflected and self-destructed in tests. Yeltsin proposed joint US-Russia 'Doverie' experiment ($300M). Boris Belit
uap-researchEvolution to Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX)
The NASA FAST experiment evolves into the Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX), continuing research into compact toroid acceleration for propulsion.
fusion-physicsPTX Program Maturation
The Plasmoid Thruster Experiment (PTX) at NASA MSFC evolves from FAST, focusing on engineering characterization of FRC and Spheromak configurations.
fusion-physicsAFRL DPF paper (Feb 2006): 'pulsed-train plasmoid weapons,' 'gravity or time-distorting devices,' Q=3-6 overunity, gigawatts — the smoking gun
AFRL paper ADA446973. Aneutronic p-B11 DPF fusion. Q=3-6 → gigawatts. Explicitly mentions 'plasmoid weapons' and 'gravity/time-distorting devices.' SSTO military aerospace vehicle. MHD propulsion. Tim
uap-researchELF Thruster Publication
John Slough, David Kirtley, and Thomas Weber publish on the Electrodeless Lorentz Force (ELF) thruster, explicitly linking it to pulsed plasmoid propulsion.
fusion-physicsTAE Technologies C-2 Merging Success
TAE Technologies reports the formation of a hot, stable FRC by colliding two plasmoids at supersonic speeds, converting 60% of kinetic energy to thermal energy.
fusion-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? ▾
Which entities are associated with Punch Coil Plasma Gun? ▾
Quick_Facts
- Category
- Technology
- Aliases
- Punch Coil Plasma Gun, punch-coil-plasma-gun, punch coil, punch-coil gun
- Sources
- 4
- Graph Entities
- 12
- Timeline Events
- 10