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{{Era|Covenant|HCW}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{References}}
{{Center|''For the Particle Beam Rifle, see {{Pattern|Sulok|beam rifle}}.''}}
<center>''For the Particle Beam Rifle, see [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System|here]].''
[[File:BeamEliteShoot.jpg|thumb|250px||The particle beam of a Covenant beam rifle]]
</center>
A '''particle beam weapon''' is a type of [[directed energy weapon]] that uses a high energy beam of ionized particles to damage a target.<ref name="Beam Rifle">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/beam-rifle '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Beam Rifle'']</ref>
{{Clear}}[[File:1209167946_Beamrifle.jpg|thumb|A [[Beam Rifle]], an example of a particle beam weapon.]]


A '''particle beam weapon''' is a type of [[directed energy weapon]] that uses an ultra-high energy beam of atoms or electrons to damage a target by disrupting its atomic and molecular structure.  
==Known particle beam weapons==
 
The [[Forerunner]]s utilized particle beam technology extensively during times of war. They developed such weapons as the [[Sentinel beam]] used by [[Aggressor Sentinel]]s, which fires a stream of superheated, negatively-charged ions particularly efficient against small [[Flood]] forms,<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 168''</ref> and the [[Binary Rifle]], used by Forerunner [[Warrior-Servants]] and [[armigers]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/binary-rifle '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Binary Rifle'']</ref> As well as small arms, the Forerunners created larger [[particle cannon]]s for use in anti-air defense.<ref>'''[[Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 105''</ref>
==Beam generation==
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 negative ions (''anions''); when hydrogen atoms lose electrons they form positive ions (''cations''). A particle beam weapon that accelerates anions uses a traveling-wave type particle accelerator. In this kind of 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 volts inside it.{{citation needed}}
 
The firing process contains the following stages:
 
# While the charge on the electrode is positive, the ions are attracted to the negative charge on the electrode, and thus bunched around it.
# The alternating voltage switches the charge to negative on the accelerating electrode.
# The negative charge electrostatically repels the negative ions and accelerates them to near the velocity of light.
# The resulting high energy beam of anions passes through a chamber filled with low pressure gas.
# There, collisions with the gas strip the extra electrons from the anions, and thus make the particle beam neutral.
# The particle beam proceeds straight to its target, and damages it by disrupting its molecular structure with kinetic energy.
 
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 100-1000 megavolts or more. The resulting high-energy protons capture electrons from electron emitter electrodes, and are thus electrically neutralized. This creates an neutral beam of high-energy hydrogen atoms that can proceed at nearly the speed of light to strike a target.{{citation needed}}
 
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 any realistic means of defending a target against the beam.


==Known particle beam weapons==
Though the [[UNSC]] has an understanding of the technology, only the [[Covenant]] have employed the use of particle beam weapons, the most prominent being the [[energy projector]]s installed on their [[warship]]s,<ref>'''[[Halo: Fleet Battles]]'''</ref> which are capable of dealing tremendous damage to ships<ref>'''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]''', ''page 320''</ref> and planetary surfaces.<ref>'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', campaign level ''[[New Alexandria (location)|New Alexandria]]''</ref> Some Covenant infantry weapons also utilize particle beam technology, the most common being the semi-automatic [[Zubo-pattern beam rifle|Zubo-]] and {{Pattern|Sulok|beam rifle}}s, which are used as high-accuracy anti-personnel weapons.{{Ref/Reuse|Beam Rifle}} The {{Pattern|M'tara|focus rifle}} is composed of a coil set and plasma generator core sourced from a Sentinel beam, which is wrapped in Covenant control devices and power converters. The barrel of the weapon is an elongated firing channel, through which superheated [[plasma]] energy is electromagnetically directed and accelerated.<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/focus-rifle '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Focus Rifle'']</ref>
So far, even though the [[UNSC]] has an understanding of this technology, only the [[Covenant]] have shown the technological aptitude to engineer practical particle beam weapons, equipping their larger warships with [[energy projector]]s capable of dealing tremendous damage to ships and planets, and using the far smaller [[Type-50 Sniper Rifle System]] as a high-accuracy anti-personnel weapon.


The [[Forerunner]] [[Sentinel Beam]] is a particle beam weapon which fires a stream of superheated, negatively-charged ions.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 168''</ref> This technology was reverse-engineered by the Covenant in form of the [[Type-52 Special Applications Rifle]].<ref name="vis">'''[[Halo: The Essential Visual Guide]]''', ''page 71''</ref> The Forerunners also used particle-based weaponry such as the [[Binary Rifle]].
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:H3-SentinelBeam.png|The Sentinel beam weapon.
File:H4-Z750BinarySniperRifle-AltRender.png|The Z-750 SASR "Binary Rifle".
File:H4-Z8060ParticleCannon-ScanRender.png|A Z-8060 particle cannon
File:H4 Particle Cannon firing.jpg|A Z-8060 particle cannon firing on a [[D79-TC Pelican|Pelican]]
File:H4-T27SASParticleBeamRifle.png|The Type-27 SASR.
File:H3-T50SRSParticleBeamRifleSide.png|The Type-50 SRS.
File:HR-T52SARFocusRifle-Side.png|The Type-52 SAR "Focus Rifle".
File:H2A Cutscene EnergyProjectorPiercing.png|The energy projector of an [[assault carrier]] piercing the hull of a {{Class|Marathon|heavy cruiser}}
</gallery>


==List of appearances==
==List of appearances==
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Halo: The Flood]]''
*''[[Halo 2]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo 3]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo 3: ODST]]''
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
*''[[Halo: Uprising]]''
**''[[Headhunters (short story)|Headhunters]]'' {{C|Motion comic only}}
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Reach]]''
*''[[Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo 4]]''
**''[[Spartan Ops]]''
*''[[Halo: Spartan Assault]]''
*''[[Halo: Escalation]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''


==Sources==
==Sources==
<references/>
{{Ref/Sources}}
 
[[Category:Directed-energy weapons]]
[[Category:Directed-energy weapons]]

Latest revision as of 02:22, September 1, 2022

For the Particle Beam Rifle, see Sulok-pattern beam rifle.
The particle beam of a Covenant beam rifle

A particle beam weapon is a type of directed energy weapon that uses a high energy beam of ionized particles to damage a target.[1]

Known particle beam weapons[edit]

The Forerunners utilized particle beam technology extensively during times of war. They developed such weapons as the Sentinel beam used by Aggressor Sentinels, which fires a stream of superheated, negatively-charged ions particularly efficient against small Flood forms,[2] and the Binary Rifle, used by Forerunner Warrior-Servants and armigers.[3] As well as small arms, the Forerunners created larger particle cannons for use in anti-air defense.[4]

Though the UNSC has an understanding of the technology, only the Covenant have employed the use of particle beam weapons, the most prominent being the energy projectors installed on their warships,[5] which are capable of dealing tremendous damage to ships[6] and planetary surfaces.[7] Some Covenant infantry weapons also utilize particle beam technology, the most common being the semi-automatic Zubo- and Sulok-pattern beam rifles, which are used as high-accuracy anti-personnel weapons.[1] The M'tara-pattern focus rifle is composed of a coil set and plasma generator core sourced from a Sentinel beam, which is wrapped in Covenant control devices and power converters. The barrel of the weapon is an elongated firing channel, through which superheated plasma energy is electromagnetically directed and accelerated.[8]

Gallery[edit]

  • The Sentinel beam weapon.

    The Sentinel beam weapon.

  • The Z-750 SASR "Binary Rifle".

    The Z-750 SASR "Binary Rifle".

  • A Z-8060 particle cannon

    A Z-8060 particle cannon

  • A Z-8060 particle cannon firing on a Pelican

    A Z-8060 particle cannon firing on a Pelican

  • The Type-27 SASR.

    The Type-27 SASR.

  • The Type-50 SRS.

    The Type-50 SRS.

  • The Type-52 SAR "Focus Rifle".

    The Type-52 SAR "Focus Rifle".

  • The energy projector of an assault carrier piercing the hull of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser

    The energy projector of an assault carrier piercing the hull of a Marathon-class heavy cruiser

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b Halo Waypoint: Beam Rifle
  2. ^ Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 168
  3. ^ Halo Waypoint: Binary Rifle
  4. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 105
  5. ^ Halo: Fleet Battles
  6. ^ Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 320
  7. ^ Halo: Reach, campaign level New Alexandria
  8. ^ Halo Waypoint: Focus Rifle
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