It is not a nuke inbuild tool but a plugin try to find some infos from the author of the plugin or where you downloaded it.
When i need particules i use a 3D software like maya, but if you are confortable with AE you will save you troubles trying to work with a plugin that may not have everything you need and obviouslely not documented.
nothing goes against doing different things of a shot in different sofwares
Now... i hope this will not be seen as "advertising" or something, but i think, it is worth mentioning that RedGiant has released an OFX / NUKE Version of Trapcode Particular. Might be specifically interesting since you mention, that you wanted to do the Parts in AE...
There are even some introductory tuts to Particular for Nuke on TheFoundry´s website.