(covers information from several alternate timelines)
A Pulse Phaser is the Primary directed energy weapons system mainly utilized by Starships constructed by the United Federation of Planets as well as a few other alien military organizations throughout the Milky Way Galaxy and within several other versions of the Federation throughout several Other Universes.
System Basics[]
The basic form of a fully weaponized pulse phaser is an rapid Nadion particle beam set on a pulsed frequency that can be specifically set to both interfere and kinetically interact with the wave pattern of any solid, gaseous, or (at times) energy based molecular form. This is called "phasing" the beam frequency. Hence the term.
System Mechanics[]
The term Phaser itself is also an acronym for Phased Energy Rectification according to the process of turning stored energy into an energy beam without immediate sub-atomic transformation or molecular conversion. This is a process of treating Particle elements more like energy waves and propelling or expelling them in a process similar to Microwave induction. Nearly every form of phased weaponry undergoes some form of this process.
Energetic Nadion-based plasma is stored in a Sarium-Krellide insulated Chamber. This material is used because it cannot accidentally release the charge of plasma, which would render it unusable and unstable. Then the plasma is pumped into a firing chamber made out of a superconducting Lithium-TriCopper based Phased array. There the compressed crystalline/metallic combination micro antenna "Phase shifter" array induces a rapid or particle accelerating effect in the Nadion plasma in which strong nuclear forces are liberated. A strong Protonic charge forms and thus the particle plasma is released in pulses from the beam emitter itself.
A beam of Electromagnetic based energy termed as a Annular Confinement Beam Jacket contains and compresses a stream of Higher Energy Nadions surrounded by equally energized Photons and Protons using Higher Phase Velocities is released from the emitter crystal at the speed of light. The photons in the beam become superheated and visible similar to electric lightning. Just as phased array microwaves are deployed, Nadion beams could be both emitted and focused at a near pinpoint beam to any large enough and visible target.
- ACB jacketed beams of either a Mega or Heavy Phaser cannon can be safely delivered at Transwarp and Interquadratal warp speeds without disrupting the surrounding warp field around the ship, this along with many other advances in Sub-Space technology made high ship velocity combat in emergency situations possible.
- When Phasers are fired by a ship with either basic Deflector or Heavy Particle Shields active. The ship's beam frequency is locked to the second-order harmonics of the shields energy emissions. This allows the beam to pass freely outward through the shields and onto its intended target.
System History[]
Pulse Phaser weapons were first developed by United Earth in the mid 2150s to combine the benefits of two previously used weapon technologies EM-33 plasma cannons and Laser beams.
In while plasma beams of the era delivered a high impact it couldn't penetrate energy shields. Where as Lasers could penetrate shields easily, but had little to no impact force to do any physical damage to over time improved hull composition.
Phase cannons were one of the earliest models of nadion weapons technology placed on the first long range ships such as the NX class.
However some early Starfleet cruisers still had heavier laser emplacements standard Pulse phaser banks were installed as military standard in 2254 during the Federation/Klingon war. It wasn't until the 2260s when phaser equipment became mandatory.
External Links[]
- Phaser article at Memory Alpha, the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Phaser article at Memory Beta, the non-canon Star Trek wiki.