A
raygun is a type of fictional or futuristic
directed-energy weapon. They have various alternate names:
ray gun,
death ray,
beam gun,
blaster,
laser gun,
phaser,
zap gun etc. They are a well-known feature of
science fiction; for such stories they typically have the general function of
guns. In most stories, when activated, a raygun emits a ray, typically visible, usually lethal if it hits a human target, often destructive if it hits mechanical objects, with properties and other effects unspecified or varying.