A sort of
gun, used most commonly by
alien invaders and humans from the
future, which shoots out
rays,
beams, or
lasers of some sort. The effect of the ray is usually heat-related; it will either
scorch a small hole straight through what it hits, or melt what it hits into a pile of
molten goo.
The
aliens tend to make their guns very flashy and awkward, with
blinking lights and sound effects attached.