A polyluminous burst was a brief but intense release of photonic energy which could illuminate any object in the immediate vicinity. A sustained polyluminous burst could be generated by a specially-reconfigured photon torpedo, creating a "warp flare."

Such a burst was utilized by Lieutenant Commander Tuvok in 2375, who used a warp flare to identify three alien ships who were using a dampening field to disable USS Voyager in the starless region of space in the Delta Quadrant known as "the Void." (VOY: "Night")