I have recently written a Particle Engine that is capable of the special effects you described, which currently works with Three.js v.56:
http://stemkoski.github.io/Three.js/Particle-Engine.html
and see the blog post http://stemkoski.blogspot.com/2013/06/creating-particle-effects-engine-in.html for related details.
[Update Sept. 2013] The Particle Engine has been greatly improved and is still undergoing development at http://squarefeet.github.io/ShaderParticleEngine/