Basic Information
A glitter bomb is a (currently largely hypothetical) form of ammunition designed to provide concealment - and potentially some cover - in an environment where visibility extends beyond visual range and/or directed energy weapons are in play.
When detonated a glitter bomb releases a cloud of highly reflective, low mass, ablative flakes - visually similar to glitter in appearance. These may or may not also be accompanied by hot or cold smoke for further concealment. The particles generate visual clutter in their own right, and are also expected to be further resistant to RADAR/LiDAR. Under high incident energy - such as a laser shot piercing the cloud - the flakes are expected to "bloom" into vapour, dispersing the beam. Possible upgrades include some form of electric charge to the flakes to interfere with other sensors and signals.
Their larger, space-based cousin is often referred to as a sandcaster and they can probably claim countermeasure chaff as an ancestor.
Sources
Game and Story Use
- Probably first appear around Cyberpunk - or at a similar point twenty minutes into the future - against LiDAR and similar scanning tools. Cover from lasers will probably come later.
- This is probably something your power armour likes to fling about if it thinks someone is aiming at you and/or to cover your descent on a combat drop.
- Expect this material to have interesting forensic outcomes - at least some manufacturers may introduce traceable elements, and once the glitter starts to fly, everyone will end up covered in the stuff like a greetings card made by a teenage girl. They will not only have to get it out of their clothes and hair, but may have to detail with any they inhaled, swallowed or got dragged into the air intakes of their equipment. How much fun ensues depends which side of the law the PCs are on - much better for them if they're doing the chasing in this case.