How do I reference my particle system in code?

[rootVIII]

@anonymous_user_d4cefbf7

static ConstructorHelpers::FObjectFinder<UParticleSystem> PS(TEXT("ParticleSystem'/Game/StarterContent/Particles/P_Explosion.P_Explosion'"));
PSC = CreateDefaultSubobject<UParticleSystemComponent>(TEXT("MyPSC"));
PSC->SetTemplate(PS.Object);

Funny… I was hoping to do exactly what OP wanted to do… load the particle system with c++ only. I can confirm your advice worked for me in UE5.1.