Phase weapon

Phase weapons, or phase-modulated energy weapons, were a type of directed energy particle weapon that utilized a phase modulator to control the blast yield. Phase weapons were used by Starfleet and the MACOs in the 2150s and early-2160s. The hand-held weapons had both non-lethal stun and kill settings. 

Malcolm Reed showed Jonathan Archer a phase pistol for the first time in 2151 shortly before the first time Archer faced down Silik, recovering the Klingon courier Klaang from a Suliban Helix. Later on, the was fitted with internally-mounted retractable phase cannons during the first year of its interstellar exploration mission. 

The phase pistols used by the MACO fired phase pulses. Andorians were known to be susceptible to phase pulse infections. An improved version of the phase cannon was developed by Starfleet by the year 2154. The became the first ship equipped with these weapons. 

Phase pistols had the power of their particle yield generally kept under 5 megajoules, but with modification it could be set to ten megajoules. Where as the phase cannons used on the Enterprise could produce a maximum yield of 80 gigajoules, thought the cannons themselves were rated for a maximum power output of 500 gigajoules. 

Types of phase weapons

 * Phase cannon
 * Pulsed phase cannon
 * Phase pistol
 * Phase pulse