Railguns

Celestial Grove    Science    Technology    Weaponry      Railguns

Railguns are a type of kinetic weaponry that use two parallel conductive rods and an electric current to accelerate a projectile through the use of electromagnetism primarily instead of through the expanding gas of a chemical weapon. As opposed to Coilguns, a similar electrokinetic weapon, railguns are mechanically simpler and offer far higher muzzle velocities. The projectile of a railgun is part of the electrical circuit which creates a 90 degree bend in the magnetic field formed by the complete electrical circuit that accelerates the projectile until the circuit is broken. Modern railguns use a conductive filler gas so that the projectile or armature are not in contact with the railgun conductor rods. This decreases friction immensely allowing the railguns to have immensely high muzzle velocities for anti-ship combat or point defense.

Types

Simple

Simple railguns are a rudimentary and early version of the weapon system. They lack any conductive medium between the conductor rails and projectile resulting in substantial friction and thus low muzzle velocity and frequent maintenance.

Expanding Gas

Expanding gas railguns are higher power maglevs that utilize expanding filler gases to provide additional acceleration. Typically, only the largest and most powerful railguns like the TKV-34 can take advantage of this action.

Plasma

Plasma railguns are a very advanced class used by the Kapisan in defense of important worlds like Preccyoba. These railguns have incredibly high muzzle velocities but do damage through thermal shock instead of high-energy impacts.

Maglev

Maglev railguns are a high performance class of railguns that levitate the projectile within the gun while using a conductive filler gas to complete the circuit required to accelerate the projectile. This negates almost all friction on the conductor rods increasing service life and muzzle velocity greatly. These are the considered the default class of railgun in use by modern militaries.

Hybrid

Hybrid railguns are a family of unconventional design that merge Kapisan technology and materials to gain various advantages. More efficient energy usage and higher velocities can be achieved, but the most successful were Trrässo railguns which had vastly higher operating temperatures.

Pros

• Designs are functionally simple
• Easy to manufacture and maintain
• Very reliable operation
• Shots are very precise
• Cheapest system to operate

Cons

• Systems are very heavy
• Need robust electrical systems to be useful
• Systems take up a lot of space
• Lacks versatility
• Solid shots can bounce off targets

Components

Capacitors

Railgun capacitors tend to be incredibly massive and easily make up more than half the weight and cost of a railgun system. The capacitors store constant power being produced and then discharge them quickly. The power output of the capacitors can easily be an order of magnitude greater than the input.

Conductor Rods

Conductor rods on a railgun are a pair of parallel "rails" through which current flows to accelerate a round. As electricity passes through the conductors, a magnetic field is created. When the current passes through the round it also gains a magnetic field, but one that is at a 90 degree angle to that of the conductors. Repulsion from the angle forces the round down the conductor rods until the circuit is broken.

Flash Arrestor

Flash arrestors are devices installed on the muzzle of railguns to obscure visual indicators of a railgun firing. They capture and cool ablated material and filler gases which betray a firing railgun. High quality flash arrestors when used in conjunction with responsive vessel reaction control can make the firing sequence nearly invisible.

Known Railgun Models

Image	Name	Type	Found
	TKV-34 "Thunderchild"	Expanding gas	On Vendoya-class Cruisers
	Preccyoba Defenses	Plasma	On Preccyoba's only continent
	Trrässo Railgun	Hybrid	On Ayin-class Frigates