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

Larger Variants and Ship Based Particle Beam Weapons

Hadron Cannon The Hadron Cannon is, as its name implies, a cannon that shoots highly charged Hadron particles. These particles are accelerated until they reach near-light speed, carrying enough energy to annihilate almost anything it comes in contact with. The beam shot is a blood red and black continuous stream which batters an enemy for a full three and a half seconds; devastating any physical defense it comes into contact with and totally depleting most energy shields pitted against it. The Hadron Cannon is used in vehicles as both the normal variant and the Stark Hadron variant; a heavy Knightmare-mounted cannon with quadruple Hadron emitters capable of extreme destruction on the battlefield, but at the cost of enormous power reserves. It is also used in starships, as an anti-capital weapon capable of destroying ship shielding and armor fairly quickly.

Energy Projector The Energy Projector is a starship weapon used exclusively by large ships. It fires a thin beam of silver-white tinged energized matter which has a very long range, is extremely accurate, and very destructive; capable of destroying unshielded ships almost effortlessly and "glassing" planets, systematically rendering them sterile and incapable of sustaining life. The weapon fires a thin beam of extremely powerful and energetic particles. It is possible to predict when an energy projector is about to fire as it typically charges the beam before firing, creating a visible maelstrom of energy. Travelling at near light speed, the beam has an effective range of over 100,000 kilometers.

Against most unshielded vessels, the weapon is able to pierce dozens of centimeters of armor with comparative ease, rendering most forms of physical defense useless. Therefore, a single hit or perforation can potentially disable or destroy vital systems. The beam can be focused to varying degrees; in space, the beam can be focused to a smaller, more concentrated, and thus more powerful beam generally used to decimate enemy fleets from afar. When glassing a planet, a less-focused beam causes atmospheric and biospheric destruction by exciting the atoms in the air, thus scorching land and air life, and evaporating water with ease, suffocating aquatic life and destabilizing the planet's surface temperature. Therefore, merely firing multiple weapons through the air would cause biospheric destruction on a planetary scale. In addition, the excitement of atoms could chemically alter the atmosphere or even blow it away

Baryon Heavenly Frightening Overlord Heavy Particle Cannon Originally designed by the Anari, the Baryon Cannon is a (comparatively) mid-late generation starship weapon. The Baryon Cannon is a particle beam weapon, which fires highly energized baryon particles at speeds approaching the speed of light. The beam fired is light orange/dark orange in color, and has no range limit. The power of the weapon is astounding, capable ripping apart several normal dreadnoughts in a row with ease at full power; even surpassing the weapons of planetary defense stations. But it is generally ill-advisable to fire the Baryon Cannon at full power, due to the time needed to recharge it making said ship vulnerable during the period along with the fact that most ships are easily destroyed or disabled at 50% power or lower anyway (the power output of the Baryon Cannon is completely adjustable).

As the Baryon Heavenly Frightening Overlord Heavy Particle Cannon is only found in the Anari Dreadnoughts Etherion and the Lion of Albion, copying it completely for use in other ships is currently impossible, due to the extremely advanced levels of technology required. A lower derivative version simply named the Baryon Cannon, used in the Edolas Septentrion Superdreadnoughts, is possible; but requires an extensive amount of research for the usual end result of a weapon only 70% as powerful as the original.

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.

Larger Variants

The Experimental Tank Particle Cannon (X-TPC) is an experimental weapon used by the Commonwealth, used by the Challenger IV MBT in the Royal Life Guards (Armoured component of the Monarchy's personal guards). The X-TPC is a miniature version of the Haldrion Heavy Particle Cannons used by the RCN and Orbital Defence Grids, and is capable of massive, if only focused destruction.

Ship-based Particle Beam Weapons

The Haldrion Heavy Particle Cannons is the primary particle weapon used in the RCN and Orbital Defence Grids. The Haldrion HPC's are used in the Trafalgar-class Dreadnoughts, Nelson-class Battleships, Albion-class Superdreadnoughts, Britannia-class Supercarriers and the Geo-Orbital Defence Platforms. The Haldrion HPC's are capable of destruction on a WMD scale, their energy output being no less than 2.4 million terrwatts. For clarification, the Haldrion HPC's would be capable of melting the crust of the entire North American Eastern Seaboard in under thirty seconds. The Haldrion HPC is one of the most devastating weapons used by the Commonwealth, second only to its nuclear and antimatter arsenal. No opposing starship, save for those used by Galactic Threats, is capable of surviving a direct hit. However there is a catch to this destructive power: because of the large amount of power needed to fire the weapon, a Haldrion HPC takes thirty seconds to recharge, before it can fire again.

Particle beam weaponry of the Caelum Military

Particle beam weaponry plays a big part in the military of Caelum. Multiple weapons use the system, such as long-range rifles and larger AT weaponry.

TPB-27 - Particle Beam assault rifle, essentially cuts a beam into small burst to be used like a ballastic-based auto-weapon.

TPB-30 - Particle Beam shotgun, multiple emitters lie in the receiver, designed to shoot out ball-shaped energy blasts. Effective at close range.

TPB-35 - Particle Beam sniper rifle, super-focuses the beam into a thin, extremely dense beam. Can penetrate almost anything, uses high energy amount, prone to common recharges.

ATPB-55 - Anti-armor, essentially shoots a huge beam that an infantry unit can handle. Has to charge.

SMTB-1000 - Organic Solarisian weapon built into certain bestial forms. Capable of clearing a crowd of enemy infantry, vehicles, and even aircraft if done right.

Particle Beam Space weaponry, Caelum Space Warfare

Once again, Particle beams play a big role, as it includes the "Aurora Ominae" Weapon. Besides that, Caelum has turrets mounted to ships capable of firing particle weaponry, either in long-range streams or short-range bursts.

Doomsday Aurora Ominae - Super Heavy particle beam dispenser. Capable of wiping a nicely-sized planet devoid of life, this weapon emits a super-large beam from the front of the ship, focusing all power from the ship to the weapon. The beam is capable of locking onto multiple ships and skewering them. Not much, if at all, can survive a direct hit from the weapon. It must recharge for 10 minutes after use, and the using ship cannot move, cloak, nor jump for 10 minutes.