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| {{Status|Canon}} | | {{Era|HCW}} |
| [[File:H2A-AssaultCarrierCore.jpg|300px|thumb|An [[CAS-class assault carrier|assault carrier]]'s pinch fusion reactor]] | | [[File:H2A-AssaultCarrierCore.jpg|300px|thumb|A [[CAS-class assault carrier|Covenant assault carrier]]'s pinch fusion reactor]] |
| '''Pinch fusion reactors''' are [[nuclear fusion]] reactors that served as a source of power generation used by the [[Covenant]].<ref name="wf61">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 61</ref> Using [[deuterium]] and [[tritium]] as fuel,<ref name="fs">''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', p. 193 (2003); p. 234 (2010)</ref> pinch fusion reactors replicate the conditions inside the core of a star to generate enormous amounts of [[plasma]] and power. These reactors power the weapons and engines of [[warship]]s,{{Ref/Reuse|wf61}} the [[impulse drive]]s of smaller ships,<ref name="wf59">''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 59</ref> and even the [[combat harness]]es of [[Sangheili]] warriors.<ref name="CU">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/community-update-the-finals-countdown '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Community Update (07/29/16): The Finals Countdown'']</ref> | | '''Pinch fusion reactors''' are [[nuclear fusion]] reactors that serve as the primary source of power on board [[Covenant]] warships. They are much more advanced than the [[UNSC]]'s [[fusion reactor|fusion power plants]], and use [[deuterium]]-[[tritium]] fusion. The process generates [[plasma]] that is compressed and heated by [[Wikipedia:Pinch (plasma physics)|pinched]] magnetic fields.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 193''</ref> If their cooling systems become disabled or their maximum heat loads are exceeded, they can often fail explosively.<ref>'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 305''</ref> The UNSC has been able to create a pinch fusion reactor, but details about the reactor are scarce. <ref>''[[Halo Online]]</ref> |
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| The pinch fusion reactor serves as the primary source of power for Covenant warships, though a handful of classes were powered by [[shrine-core]]s, power plants extracted from [[Forerunner]] machinery.<ref>''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 65</ref>
| | In order to obtain fuel for their pinch fusion reactors, the Covenant operate various groundside facilities on worlds rich in tritium and deuterium, including [[hydro-processing center]]s<ref>[http://majornelson.com/2011/08/26/news-from-halo-fest/ '''Xbox Live's Major Nelson''': ''News From Halo Fest'']</ref> and massive refineries such as that on [[Pegasi Delta]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 15''</ref> |
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| ==Description==
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| The reactors use focused [[artificial gravity]] generators to initiate and sustain a fusion reaction, replicating the conditions inside the core of stars. This process generates an enormous amount of power and [[plasma]].{{Ref/Reuse|wf61}}<ref name="wf91">''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 91</ref> Through [[deuterium]]-[[tritium]] fusion, the plasma that is generated is compressed and heated by [[Wikipedia:Pinch (plasma physics)|pinched]] magnetic fields.{{Ref/Reuse|fs}} Non-essential ship systems may be rendered inert or disconnected to divert the output of the reactors entirely to specific systems, such as armaments or propulsion.<ref>''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 71</ref> The reactors are surprisingly primitive for the Covenant,{{Ref/Reuse|fs}} and are quite volatile.{{Ref/Reuse|wf91}} If their cooling systems become disabled or their maximum heat loads are exceeded, they can often fail explosively<ref name="fs305">''Halo: First Strike'', p. 305 (2003)</ref>—the reactors can detonate with the power of a small [[supernova]] should containment efforts fail.{{Ref/Reuse|wf61}} Each reactor on Unyielding Hierophant provide 512 terawatts .<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 305''</ref>
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| ==Applications and usage==
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| Pinch fusion reactors are most notably used on Covenant [[warship]]s, powering the weapons and engines. The {{Pattern|Sinaris|heavy destroyer}} has two pinch fusion reactors; the primary reactor powers the [[destroyer]]'s powerful [[Energy projector|superheavy excavation beam]], while the secondary reactor powers the rest of the ship.{{Ref/Reuse|wf61}} The largest pinch fusion reactor of the {{Pattern|Ket|battlecruiser}} provides the energy needed to ignite [[plasma torpedo]]es and charge its excavation beam.<ref>''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 62</ref> The [[impulse drive]]s fitted on [[Space fighter|fighters]], [[dropship]]s, and [[shuttle]]s are powered by a small pinch fusion reactor.{{Ref/Reuse|wf59}} Scaled-down reactors are used to power the Covenant's [[Cheru-pattern Tyrant|Type-38 "Tyrant" anti-air cannons]] and [[Sangheili]] [[combat harness]]es, with a modified version being incorporated into the Sangheili-designed [[HELIOSKRILL-class Mjolnir]].{{Ref/Reuse|CU}} ''[[Unyielding Hierophant]]'' was also powered by pinch fusion reactors.{{Ref/Reuse|fs305}}
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| In order to obtain fuel for their pinch fusion reactors, the Covenant operate various groundside facilities on worlds rich in tritium and deuterium, including [[hydro-processing center]]s<ref>[http://majornelson.com/2011/08/26/news-from-halo-fest/ '''Xbox Live's Major Nelson''': ''News From Halo Fest'']</ref> and massive refineries such as that on [[Pegasi Delta]].<ref>''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', p. 15</ref> | |
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| | Small pinch fusion reactors are used to power the Covenant's [[Type-38 Tyrant|Type-38 "Tyrant" anti-air cannons]] and the [[Sangheili]] [[Sangheili combat harness|combat harness]]es.<ref name="CU">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/news/community-update-the-finals-countdown '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Community Update (07/29/16): The Finals Countdown'']</ref> |
| | {{Clear}} |
| ==Gallery== | | ==Gallery== |
| <gallery> | | <gallery> |
| File:Covenant_Pinch_Fusion_reactor.jpg|An assault carrier's pinch fusion reactor in ''Halo 2'' | | File:Covenant_Pinch_Fusion_reactor.jpg|An assault carrier's pinch fusion reactor in ''Halo 2''. |
| File:T38 core.jpg|A Tyrant's pinch fusion reactor in ''Halo: Reach''
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| File:HTV S2 CovenantCorvette Reactor Concept 1.jpg|''[[Halo: The Television Series]]'' concept art of the {{Pattern|Ceudar|heavy corvette}}'s pinch fusion reactor.
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| File:HTV S2 CovenantCorvette Reactor Concept 2.jpg|''Television Series'' concept art of the corvette's pinch fusion reactor.
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| File:HTV S2 CovenantCorvette Reactor Concept 3.jpg|''Television Series'' concept art of the corvette's pinch fusion reactor.
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| </gallery> | | </gallery> |
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| *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Reach]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Reach]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
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| *''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' | | *''[[Halo: Escalation]]'' |
| *''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' | | *''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]'' |
| *''[[Halo: Shadows of Reach]]''
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| ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| {{Ref/Sources|2}}
| | <references/> |
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| [[Category:Power generation]] | | [[Category:Power generation]] |