Proton Pack
The ultimate tool for trapping ghosts, turning ectoplasm into contained energy with a simple trigger pull.
The Proton Pack is the defining piece of technology in the Ghostbusters organization, a fictional energy-based capture device used for controlling and lassoing ghosts. First depicted in the film Ghostbusters, it has a hand-held wand ("Neutrona Wand" or particle thrower) connected to a backpack-sized nuclear accelerator. Designed and built by Dr. Egon Spengler, it is a man-portable cyclotron system that controls a stream of highly focused and radially polarized protons, electrostatically controlling the negatively charged energy of a ghost. Dr. Peter Venkman refers to the proton packs in one scene as "unlicensed nuclear accelerators." The beam allows a Ghostbuster to contain and hold "negatively charged ectoplasmic entities," though the stream is also quite destructive to physical objects and can cause extensive property damage.
- Inventor
- Dr. Egon Spengler
- Primary Users
- Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, Egon Spengler
- Key Component
- Neutrona Wand (Nozzel)
- Power Source
- Portable Nuclear Accelerator / Power Cell
- First Appearance
- The original 1984 film
- Status
- Active (Various models in use)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The name "proton pack" is not used in the original movie at all, and is not used until the subway tunnel scene in Ghostbusters II, when Egon says that they should get their proton packs. The doorman to the Mayor's mansion also uses the term, asking if he can buy one for his little brother; Egon replies that "A proton pack is not a toy." In the 1984 novelization of Ghostbusters, the Proton Packs are mentioned, e.g., "Stantz hauls out the formidable weaponry from the back of the Ectomobile and the four men kit themselves up, buckling on their proton packs…" In the 2009 Ghostbusters game, Ray explains that the energy emitted by the proton stream helps to dissipate psychokinetic (PK) energy which ghosts use to manifest themselves. According to a line spoken by Egon in Ghostbusters II, each pack's energy cell has a half-life of 5,000 years. In the cartoon series The Real Ghostbusters, the maximum power setting is "500,000 MHz," possibly referring to the rate of positron collisions. The packs also have a self-destruct mechanism capable of affecting at least a half-mile radius. For the 1997 animated spinoff Extreme Ghostbusters, Egon, with the help of Roland, Kylie and Eduardo, increased the packs' nuclear capability and modified the power system so packs required replaceable proton canisters. Kylie carried a not-as-powerful proton pistol instead of a normal pack.
In Their Own Story
The rain slicked the cobblestones of the old cemetery as Ray Stantz adjusted the straps on his back, the familiar hum of the reactor vibrating against his spine. A low, guttural growl echoed from between the tombstones, followed by the sudden appearance of a translucent, weeping specter. 'Target acquired,' Ray whispered, grabbing the nozzle with a gloved hand. He squeezed the trigger, and a brilliant blue stream erupted from the wand, illuminating the foggy night. The beam struck the ghost, wrapping around its form like glowing chains. With a practiced flick of his wrist, Ray spun the spirit into a tight knot, waiting for Winston to slide the containment unit into position.
Reader's Guide
In combat, the pack is versatile; it can lift heavy objects, sever physical barriers, or simply restrain a spirit until it is trapped. Notable instances include the capture of the library ghost Zuul and the massive containment of Gozer's avatar during the climactic battle in New York City, where multiple packs were used in unison to hold back an unstoppable force.
Did You Know?
- The name 'proton pack' is not used in the original 1984 film; it first appears in the subway tunnel scene in Ghostbusters II.
- In Ghostbusters II, Egon states each pack's energy cell has a half-life of 5,000 years.
- In The Real Ghostbusters cartoon, the maximum power setting is '500,000 MHz,' possibly referring to the rate of positron collisions.
- The hero prop proton packs from the first film weighed around 35 pounds (16 kg) and were made of molded fiberglass shells on aluminum backplates bolted to military surplus ALICE frames.
- In Extreme Ghostbusters, Kylie carried a not-as-powerful proton pistol instead of a normal proton pack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented the Proton Pack?
Dr. Egon Spengler designed this portable particle accelerator by modifying surplus military components to create a device capable of manipulating high-energy proton streams.
What is the primary function of the Proton Pack?
The device generates charged particle beams that allow operators to restrain, lift, and neutralize ectoplasmic entities without damaging their physical surroundings.
Which Ghostbusters are known to operate this equipment?
While Egon Spengler created it, the primary users throughout the franchise include Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, and Egon himself.
What power source fuels the Proton Pack?
The backpack-sized unit runs on a portable nuclear reactor or a modified battery pack that provides the immense energy required for ghost containment.
How does the Proton Pack interact with ghosts?
By firing a visible stream of protons through a Neutrona Wand nozzle, the operator can trap ectoplasmic energy and convert it into a contained state.
More in Equipment & Supernatural Forces
Elsewhere in the Ghostbusters universe
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