Particle Beam Weaponry

A particle beam weapon is a type of directed energy weapon that uses an ultra high energy beam of atoms or electrons (i.e., a particle beam) to damage a material target by hitting it, and thus disrupting its atomic and molecular structure. A particle beam weapon is a type of directed-energy weapon which directs energy in a particular direction by a means of particle projectiles with mass. An electron particle beam weapon works by disrupting electric circuits and electronic devices in its targets. If any living animals or persons were to be caught by the electric discharge of an electron beam weapon, they would most likely be electrocuted. An electron beam weapon can also damage or melt its target by the electrical resistance heating of the target. A neutral particle beam weapon ionizes hydrogen gas by either stripping an electron off of each hydrogen atom, or by allowing each hydrogen atom to capture an extra electron. When hydrogen gains electrons it forms anions; when hydrogen atoms lose electrons they form cations. A particle beam weapon that accelerates anions uses a traveling wave type particle accelerator. In this kind of ion accelerator, the negative ions are released inside a cylindrical ion acceleration chamber. This chamber has an electrode with an alternating electric charge of up to 1,000,000,000 (10^9) volts inside it.

Cyclotron particle accelerators, linear particle accelerators, and synchroton particle acclerators can accelerate positively charged hydrogen ions until their velocity approaches the speed of light, and each individual ion has a kinetic energy range of 100 MeV to 1000 MeV or more. Then the resulting high energy protons can capture electrons from electron emitter electrodes, and be thus electrically neutralized. This creates an electrically neutral beam of high energy hydrogen atoms, that can proceed straight line at near the velocity of light to zap its target and thus damage it. The pulsed particle beam emitted by a particle beam weapon may contain up to 1 gigajoule of kinetic energy or more. The speed of a beam approaching the speed of light (186,000 miles per second) in combination with the energy created by the weapon would negate most realistic means of defending a target against the beam. Target hardening through shielding or materials selection would be impractical or ineffective, especially if the beam can be generated successfully and pointed at the target.

Particle Beam Weaponry of of the Kingdom of Edolas

Particle Beam Weaponry is not used very often in the Edolas Army, but in contrast is used extremely often in the Edolas Navy. Particle Beam Rifles, Energy Projectors, Hadron Cannons, and even the dreaded Baryon Cannon of the Etherion Dreadnought are all particle beam weapons; using different particles and methods of transference for each type.

Infantry Weapons

M92 Particle Beam Rifle The M92 is a Sakuradite-powered directed-energy weapon that fires ionized particles at its targets. The weapon is nearly silent, has a negligible muzzle signature, weighs considerably less than most snipers, can shoot out to several miles with absolutely no bullet drop due to lack of mass, and inflicts extremely grievous wounds akin to a powerful sniper rifle — though is considered by all assessments to be a force multiplication. The use of Particle Acceleration offers two distinct advantages, the first is its damaging properties over regular sniper rifles, as the ionized particles can pass through material easily, making it effective against targets behind cover. The Beam Rifle also excels at target penetration, maximizing its lethality, as the beam will nearly always pass through a target completely provided that it's shielding is taken down (only powerful shielding can phase the particle beam, so this point is mostly void). Although the size of the wounds inflicted on a target are usually small, the damage done is similar to most directed energy weapons used by the Edolas; which is to say, horrific. As the beam passes through the body at the speed of light, the particles transfer their kinetic energy to the atoms in the molecules of the target area. Upon impact, the area is rapidly superheated, cauterizing the wound at the same time - a direct hit on skull area of a target will be killed instantly, and body shots depending on the area will be fatal in most cases. A rare non-fatal strike to a target can also cause radiation damage, and will require additional treatment, and near misses can produce second or third degree burns to lightly armored targets

Particle Beam Weaponry of the United Systems Commonwealth

The Commonwealth makes extensive use of Particle Beam Weaponry in the Royal Commonwealth Navy and Defence Grids, and limited use within army armoured and mechanized divisions. Haldrion Heavy Particle Cannons and the Experimental Tank Particle Cannon are the Commonwealth's particle weaponry in use currently.