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==Overview==
Plasma weapons utilize the same technology as found in [[plasma reactors reactor]]s and [[Plasma Drive|drives]]: hydrogen fuel is held suspended in a photonic state, typically in a sturdy flask or backpack container, before being fed into the weapon's miniature fusion core and energised into a plasma state. This plasma is then contained by powerful magnetic fields until the weapon is fired, whereupon it is ejected via a linear magnetic accelerator to form a bolt of superheated matter in appearance and temperature much like a solar flare (giving rise to the nickname "sun gun").{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2a}}{{Fn|3}}{{Fn|4}}{{Fn|5}} Upon impact tremendous energy is released akin to a small sun, destroying the target through searing heat and explosive shock in an almighty explosion.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|2a}} Any explosion involving plasma is a thousand times stronger than a conventional [[Nuclear Weapon|nuclear explosion]] because super-energised plasma is per ton a thousand times more powerful than conventional nuclear fuel.{{Fn|8}}
While incredibly destructive plasma weapons are a mostly lost technology from the standpoint of the contemporary [[Imperium of Man]], seen as relics of another age. Their workings are a mystery for the most part, and only a select few circles of the [[Adeptus Mechanicus]] know how to construct them. Even among the [[Space Marine]] [[Chapters]] these weapons are considered uncommon, with the [[Dark Angels]] maintaining the largest inventory and the knowledge necessary to construct more; Space Marine plasma weapons also use hydrogen in higher quantum state than standard models, pushing the limits of their own resilience. Most existing plasma weapons are hundreds if not thousands of years old and those few new ones constructed are done so individually, requiring extensive blessing and rituals by the Machine God before use.{{Fn|1}}{{Fn|4}}{{Fn|5}}
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Codex: Tau Empire (6th Edition)]] - Arsenal of Expansion
*{{Endn|7}}: [[Imperial Armour Volume Three]], pg. 154
*{{Endn|8}}: [[White Dwarf 140 (UK)]], pg. 71 — ''Space Fleet''
[[Category:Plasma Weapons| ]]
