A particle weapon is a type of directed energy weapon that is used by many technologically developed or equipped civilizations. They operate by bombarding a target with energetic particles via a particle beam or a projectile-like burst. (ENT: "Fight or Flight")
Several species utilized what was described as particle weapons during the mid-22nd century as both ship-mounted cannons and sidearm weapons. Ship-mounted particle weapons are typically referred to as particle cannons. The results of firing ship-mounted particle weapons are signified by particle impacts that typically leave scorch marks on a ship's hull. In the case of high-yield particle impacts, the particle residue may cause oxidization and thermal shock effects to the hull. (ENT: "Fight or Flight")
Applications
Particle sidearms
Vulcans utilized hand-held particle weapons as early as the mid-20th century. (ENT: "Carbon Creek") By the mid-22nd century, Coridan rebels were armed with particle weapons. (ENT: "Shadows of P'Jem") The Tandarans were also armed with particle weapons, during this time. (ENT: "Detained") Xindi-Insectoids were, likewise, armed with particle weapon sidearms. (ENT: "Hatchery") The Suliban also used particle weapon sidearms which were capable of stunning their victims. (ENT: "Cold Front")
In the visions created by the Nakan memorial on Tarakis, Saavdra claimed the civilian colonists were using particle weapons against his soldiers. (VOY: "Memorial")
Starfleet issued phase pistols as well as a variety of non-phase particle pulse sidearms during the mid-22nd century. The EM-33, an EM weapon, required the user to compensate for particle drift when firing. (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs") The standard-issue carbine weapon of MACO personnel was a particle rifle. (ENT: "The Xindi"; et al.)
The phase pistol, the predecessor of the phaser, fired a continuous beam and unlike the EM-33, was capable of stun and kill settings. (ENT: "Broken Bow") The particle yield of phase pistols can be doubled by cross-polarizing the power cells. (ENT: "Regeneration") The MACO phase pistols fired phase pulses. (ENT: "Babel One")
During his meeting with the security officers, Captain Jean-Luc Picard noted that particle weapons, such as their phaser rifles, could destroy the warp core during their retake of main engineering from the Borg. (Star Trek: First Contact)
Ship-mounted particle weaponry
Particle cannons were used on Vaadwaur assult fighters in the late-15th century. (VOY: "Dragon's Teeth")
Shortly after the introduction of the phase cannons utilized by Starfleet starships it was determined that they could not be fired at warp due to the particle discharge. According to Malcolm Reed, "It would destabilize [their] warp field and most likely burn out both [of their] nacelles." (ENT: "Fallen Hero") This problem was solved shortly afterward. (ENT: "Shockwave, Part II") To the Klingons of the 22nd century, these cannons were described as "low-yield particle cannons," and were deemed little threat to a Template:ShipClass battle cruiser. (ENT: "Judgment")
Many species encountered by Starfleet during the 22nd century were armed with similar ship-mounted weapons. Suliban cell ships utilized high-yield particle weapons (ENT: "Broken Bow", "Shockwave") The armament of Enolian shuttles consisted of fore and aft particle cannons, which were less than a match for an NX-class starship (ENT: "Canamar") Xindi-Insectoid ships were armed with up to half a dozen ship-mounted particle cannons (ENT: "Hatchery") Andorian battle cruisers were armed with particle cannons, including multiple forward cannons (ENT: "Kir'Shara", "Zero Hour") Tellarite cruisers were also armed with particle cannons, which leave a signature unique to Tellarite technology (ENT: "Babel One") Xantoran patrol ships were equipped with low-power particle beams (ENT: "The Breach")