In researching scientifically-plausible energy weapons a while back, I came across mention of the Casaba-Howitzer:

http://toughsf.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-nuclear-spear-casaba-howitzer.html 

From a reply by the article's author to a question about putting these somewhat-contained MEGATON-RANGE NUCLEAR DETONATIONS into a turret gun . . .

" In an advanced technology setting, you might use 'micro-fusion' Casaba Howitzers inside a magnetic shell with a small opening for high velocity particles to rush out of. Enclose the whole thing in armor, make it rotate and you're got your nuclear turrets."


On Fri, Mar 20, 2020 at 7:56 AM Graham Donald - gndonald2001 at yahoo.com.au (via tml list) <xxxxxx@simplelists.com> wrote:
Interesting blog post from 2013 covering the history of the classic 'blaster'

"It made sense when Science Fiction went to the stars that the brave men and women who plumbed the depths of space would need weapons suited to their new environment. A firearm requiring oxygen or air pressure would not work in the vacuum of space, nor could an adventurer lost on a distant planet find ammunition for a conventional gun. As with so many of Science Fiction's standard props, it fell to H. G. Wells to arm the enemies of Man with such a weapon..."



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"Never insult anyone by accident."  Robert A. Heinlein
"I studied the Koran a great deal. I came away from that study with the conviction there have been few religions in the world as deadly to men as Muhammed." Alexis de Tocqueville
"We know a little about a lot of things; just enough to make us dangerous." Dean Winchester (fictional monster hunter portrayed by Jensen Ackles)
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