Phaser Beams

While Phasers installed on Starfleet Vessels range in power, they also come in three distinct forms.
All Phasers are fired via the use of emitters but is the type of emitter which differs. The First and oldest emitter is that of the bank, often installed in pairs and positioned in locations offering the best line of fire. These emitters are later installed on starships in the form of Phaser Strips and Arrays. In these configurations at least two emitters are placed on the path of super conducting lanes, these lanes offered much greater fields of fire and the length of the lanes (arrays) dictates how many emitters can be installed and used in any given deployment of the weapon and thus the power which can be applied.

Pulse Phaser Cannons

Pulse Phaser Cannons are not a new invention, however when the Beam Arrays were developed the Pulse Cannons fell out of favour. With the designing of the Defiant class, they was revisited, and an old design was brought into the 24^th century. The Pulse Phaser Cannon is a powerful if slow firing weapon. Each pulse of energy delivers as much fire power as several seconds of a standard beam weapon and the Defiant had four installed which fire three pulses at a time. It made the small ship a powerful contender during the Dominion War.