Particle-beam weapon

A particle-beam weapon uses a high-energy beam of atomic or subatomic particles to damage the target by disrupting its atomic and/or molecular structure. A particle-beam weapon is a type of directed-energy weapon, which directs energy in a particular and focused direction using particles with negligible mass. While their common appearance in Science Fiction would lead one to assume that such weapons are fictitious particle-beam weapons are real and have potential practical applications. Particle-beam weapons are currently used as an antiballistic missile defense system for the United States and its Strategic Defense Initiative.