Energy weapon

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference

Energy weapon can refer to any device that is intended to use directed energy in a destructive manner. Energy weapons can range in size and type from handheld anti-personnel weapons to massive cannons for combat in the vacuum space, mounted on space ships or even planetary bases.

Anti-Personnel Energy Weapons

An energy weapon can be a handheld weapon that fire energy rather than a projectile of some sort. This energy can be a laser, plasma, or some more esoteric variety. Advantages of energy weapons over firearms include their ability to do significantly more damage than a projectile, and, ironically, their ability to be designed to incapacitate rather than kill.

Large-Scale Energy Weapons