More like setting eleven.
Consider the difference between a matchlock, the predecessor to the flintlock, and a rifle, barrels the same length. By rifling the barrel, a more accurate weapon was devised. Slow Nadions, using the figure of 50,000 kilometers from the entry on advanced Laser weapons in 'The Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology', seem to have a range limit... Why? As I reported earlier the advanced laser at this range, can penetrate a three meter thick Tritanium block. Huh? Yes, that is the reported thickness. But look at this range and ability another way. This range, is approximately 1/6 of a light-second...
Now consider, that lasers do become incoherent at some point. Red lasers being closer in, than violet lasers, and Grama ray lasers much further out...
So moving on to TOS Phasers, have a much greater effective range, meaning that relativity is an issue. In other words, while the rifling of long and short guns is a good guide, at some point, this guidance...fails. so the issues of relatively affect the beam.
Setting eleven is where explosive disruption occurs. Fifty cubic meters, is quite interesting.
Why?
Because of the implications of the entirety of this book. Look at the entry for 2188, it is about the functioning of the USS Enterprise, Constitution class. In particular, the Helmsman's report. The Lasers have been improved. Faster next fire, and more powerful as well. Now go again to the entry for 2198, on Phasers. They are doing something different. Particle beam technology has been added. In some of the most advanced Particle Accelerators, lasers are now being used to improve relativistic atom smashers..., and yes, getting the frequency and timing just right is the issue.
But getting to the settings, please note that in 'The Cage', that the Hand "Lasers" have multiple settings, and that is before the emitter is changed. So settings are present, thus implying that the first ten settings are already active.
