What are Particle Beam Weapons?
Neutral and Charged Particle Beam Weapons
Advantages of Particle Beam Weapons
- Kinetic damage
- Damages or disables electronics
- Damages atomic structures of the target (think cue ball on a pool table)
- Very short, if little, beam dwelling time
- Endoatmospheric/Exoatmospheric capable
- All-Weather capability
- localized EMP effect
Disadvantage of Particle Beam Weapons
- Massive power requirements (especially with pulse Particle DEW)
- fast discharge/slow recharge of capacitors
From the Fox Mulder corner...
When it comes to the hard science portion of Stargate Atlantis you expect it to be nonexistent, and this rings true of their take on a CPB DEW pistol. During the run of the series, the former runner Ronon Dex uses an 'particle magnum' large-framed DEW pistol that looked like a sci-fi S&W Model 29 .44 magnum 'Dirty Harry' model. The gun was original from the advanced Travelers civilization, and Ronon had picked up one along his running days. This DEW pistol feed from a cylinder shaped power-cell, and could switch from stun to kill.
Mass Effect II
In the sequel, the Collectors use particle beam weaponry, and the player can equip one of their cannons. During gameplay, the Collector cannon fires a continuous beam burning the targets down, but you have to expose yourself when firing it, and it drains quick.
Babylon 5 particle beam technology explained:
Thread on Physics forum: