A particle beam is a general term for a stream of particles, which can be configured for various purposes.
- All instances of a "particle beam" being fired from a specific weapons system can be found at particle weapon.
In 2368, the USS Enterprise-D used a particle beam created by the deflector dish to prevent an asteroid, that had a core composed of densely compressed nitrium and chrondite, from impacting into the atmosphere of Tessen III. When implemented, the particle beam produced a disruptive nuclear effect in the core, causing it to explode. Later, a similar beam, reconfigured to contain nitrium, was used to encourage several nitrium parasites to leave the hull of the ship and return to the Pelloris field. (TNG: "Cost of Living")
In 2369, a trio of Hunters used a modified particle beam to scan Deep Space 9 while hunting for a Tosk. (DS9: "Captive Pursuit")
In early 2370, a highly energetic particle beam was created by reconfiguring the tractor beam emitters of the USS Enterprise-D, and fired into the surface of the star where the vessel had hidden from a rogue Borg ship. The beam produced a superfluid gas eruption that induced a solar flare, that engulfed and destroyed the Borg ship. (TNG: "Descent, Part II")
Later that year, Ro Laren fired a low-intensity particle beam from her Maquis raider into the Hugora nebula, where a Federation task force was hiding. The polarizing effect created by the particle beam revealed the task force to Maquis, enabling them to elude capture. (TNG: "Preemptive Strike")
In 2373, the Maquis rigged a Cardassian freighter with a focused particle beam that punched through the gyro-shielding of the USS Malinche, causing the ship to lose helm control. (DS9: "For the Uniform")
In 2374, B'Elanna Torres fired a particle beam from the shuttlecraft Cochrane in an attempt to disrupt the tractor beam of a Caatati starship. However, the Caatati sent an antimatter pulse back along the beam, destroying the Cochrane. (VOY: "Day of Honor")