What Kinds of Beam Weapons Would Be Visible In Space?

[Dayton3]

Though not widely known, it is pretty well established that beam weapons using concentrated light (lasers or weapons similiar to them) would not be visible in the vacuum of space.

Lasers aren't easy to see in the atmosphere even.

Are there any kind of beam weapons, such as a beam of plasma, that would be visible when fired to outside observers?

 

[JNG]

A charged plasma, as used in several Trek weapons, would be visible against the blackness of space.

 

[Dayton3]

A charged plasma, as used in several Trek weapons, would be visible against the blackness of space.

I've wondered if a plasma weapon would give off light much in the same way the plasma from the sun gives off light.

 

[Timo]

Well, yes. Even relatively thin plasmas, such as the ones in candle flames, emit plenty of easily visible light.

One might devise a "beam" weapon out of any physical material, really, be it plasma or something like molten lead. That physical material would then reflect and emit light along the whole length of the beam, just like a red-hot iron rod would.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Christopher]

On the other hand, you wouldn't really want a weapon to give off bright visible light from its beam, because that's wasted energy, being spilled out in all directions rather than focused on the target.

As for a plasma beam or bolt, it would give off light in theory, but you'd want it to travel as fast as possible, so that it would hit its target before it dissipated much. So it would probably be a very brief flash of light -- in cinematic terms, maybe a single frame's worth of video.

 

[Sheliak]

Are you disappointed that the Hubble hasn't detected any space battles?

 

[Dayton3]

Would rail gun projectiles be visible (as they are in Stargate) similiar to the manner in which tracer rounds from machine guns are visible?

I would say no but I'm no expert.

 

[Zachary Smith]

I-beams . . . (get it? "Eye"-Beams! HAR HAR HAR!!!)

Supporting structure humor is EVER a fun topic . . .

 

[Timo]

Would rail gun projectiles be visible (as they are in Stargate) similiar to the manner in which tracer rounds from machine guns are visible?

Tracer round visibility has been maximized on purpose, by introducing a light-emitting material. There might be a tactical need to do the same with railguns, as a radar might find it difficult to follow the rounds amidst the clutter of a short-range battle, and the time for radar pings to go out and return might be excessive at longer ranges. A shining railgun round would halve the time delay, and a visual flare would enable additional sensor types to track the round.

On the other hand, railguns of certain types might heat up their projectiles a lot, making them glow. Not as brightly as in SG-1, though, I'd think.

Finally, it would probably be a good idea to equip railgun rounds with their own rocket propulsion. The railgun gives the necessary speed, the rocket gives the terminal guidance. Constantly firing steering rockets could be responsible for the glow seen in SG-1.

(In addition, we have the Star Trek'ish rationale where an exotic forcefield of some sort might be responsible for the glow. Perhaps the glow is part of the countermeasures the rounds use for penetrating enemy armor or deflecting his terminal defenses?)

Timo Saloniemi