Antiphoton Weapon
From Earth Central
A weapon that utilizes a stream of protons accelarated to near-c. Discharge in atmosphere is characterised by a purple fire-like ionization.
Sable Keech uses a hand-held APW in The Skinner.
Background Quotes
| “ | Antiphoton Weapon (APW): In this case the term 'antiphoton' is a misnomer attributable to the propaganda of the Jovian Separatists (either that or hopeful thinking). The beam projected from this weapon is a proton beam, the protons having been field-accelerated to near-light speed. The distinctive purple flash or beam, is not, as some fictional sources would have us believe, the fabled 'darklight'. It is fluorescence caused by proton collision with air molecules. In pure vacuum the beam is invisible. The aforesaid fictional sources would also do well to remember that the firing of a proton weapon is a serious matter, the usual result of which is isotope contamination. The bad guys don't just disappear in an elegant purple flash. | „ |
| —From How It Is by Gordon | ||
| “ | ...The development of the laser as a weapon began way back at the start of this millennium and it has been with us ever since, however improvements in reflective and s-con heat dispersal armours has all but rendered ineffective for ship to ship conflict everything from infrared to ultraviolet. Move outside those spectra, however, and you have masers which can be used to sufficiently penetrate missiles – which will not have the heat-dispersal capacity of a large ship – to destroy them, and at closer range can actually destroy ships. The same rule applies to xasers and grasers, but in all cases the range and destructive potential of these weapons is limited for a field of conflict sometimes light years across. And, in reality, we learnt from the Prador how neglegible is their effect, in the arena in which they are usually employed, when compared to the numerous varieties of particle cannon. As you are all aware, the ubiquitous pulse-gun, is just a form of particle weapon, the particulate matter ranging from powdered aluminium, to a gas – … Pardon… I will state again that there is no such thing as an APW! What you are referring to is a proton weapon – highly destructive and tending to spread isotope poisoning wherever used. The APW, the antiphoton weapon, the dark-light gun, is a fucking fictional creation! … Yes, thank you. I’m fine. | „ |
| — From her lecture ‘Modern Warfare’ by E. B. S. Heinlein | ||
There are handheld versions that are in the gigawatt range, but these are almost always restricted by the AI's. Special cases include ECS monitor Sable Keech who used one to great effect in the hunt for Rebecca Frisk on Spatterjay.
