Also, this:
"A particle beam is an accelerated stream of charged particles or neutrons (
often moving at very near the speed of light) which may be directed by magnets and focused by electrostatic lenses, although they may also be self-focusing (see Pinch).
Subatomic particles such as electrons, positrons, and protons can be accelerated to high velocities and energies, usually expressed in terms of center-of-mass energy, by machines that impart energy to the particles in small stages or nudges, ultimately achieving very high energy particle beams, measured in terms of billions and even trillions of electron volts. Thus, in terms of their scale, particles can be made to perform as powerful missiles for bombarding other particles in a target substance or for colliding with each other as they assume intersecting orbits.
High energy beams are created in particle accelerators, in which a charged particle is drawn forward by an electrostatic (not magnetic) field with a charge opposite to the particle (like charges repel one another, opposites attract); as the particle passes the source of each field, the charge of the field is reversed so that the particle is now pushed on to another field source. Through a series of fields in sequence, the particle accelerates until it is moving at a high speed.
A natural analogy to particle beams is lightning, where electrons flow from negatively charged clouds to positively charged clouds or the earth." (Wikipedia)
The physics of lightning and particle beams are very similar (lightning is for all intents and purposes a natural electron particle beam). Neutral particle beams (such as PPCs) rely on kinetics and heat to do the damage, rather than current, but the physics, speeds, and appearance are all the same.
Alexander, 1 point:
1) Since when were we talking about Mechwarrior? I'm talking about Battletech.
Personally, I've no problem with the visual effects for the PPC. It just needs to be sped up so greatly as to miss the chance to admire much of the artist's work. This alone would give it a closer appearance to lightning without making it a 'lightning gun'.
Also, bah, I suck at explaining this stuff in words. Maybe I should illustrate it.
Edit: Let me try this again.
The main reason a neutral particle beam (ion or proton, such as PPC) looks like lightning is because it has the same effect on the atmosphere around it.. superheated air in the form of plasma which you see with lightning due the friction and energy of all those particles forcing their way through the substance of air and the same resulting sound from those processes. The particle beam itself is straight and thin (the actual lightning part of a lightning bolt is roughly the thickness of a finger; a weaponized particle beam likely less so). The supercharged, superheated air around the particle beam will inherently look more random. I found this effect someone made to be a decent example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N77mT4qtT7UAn electron particle beam, electrolaser, or lightning bolt is following a channel (necessary due to the properties of those pesky electrons). A neutral particle beam is its own channel.
