How powerfull and what wavelength of a laser would it take to melt a soda can on the moon?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How powerfull and what wavelength of a laser would it take to melt a soda can on the moon?

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:12:26 PM EDT

So you shoot a laser from Earth at a target on the moon. The Laser has to get though the Earths atmosphere and still have enough power to melt a 1/4" diameter hole though both sides in a FULL aluminum soda can that is placed on the moon.

How powerfull and what wavelength of a laser do you need? Pulsed lasers are ok.

edited to add: the time of day on the moon is between sunrise and sunset so the temp is about 100 degrees F

edited to add: the whole pulse has to take place in less than 1 second

edited to add: the can wont tip over, its secure

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:13:57 PM EDT

[#1]

PSA: anodizing on aluminum melts at about 1400 degrees

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:14:24 PM EDT

[#2]

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:15:23 PM EDT

[#3]

It isnt wavelength, or necessarily power.

You will get some attenuation from the atmosphere, but the main problem will be focusing the laser to the moon.

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:16:17 PM EDT

[#4]

You would need to know the amount of heat being applied to it from the sun, to get an accurate idea. (if your looking for how much laser is enough to get it to happen)

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:17:34 PM EDT

[#5]

40 KW

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:20:32 PM EDT

[#6]

Diet soda or regular? It makes a HUGE difference.

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:21:45 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Diet soda or regular? It makes a HUGE difference.

Ok...diet.

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:22:02 PM EDT

[#8]

Even if you could focus a beam tight enough and had enough power it wouldn't focus on a spot small enough to melt the hole from here to there. Earth movements and moon movements would have the beam bouncing all over the place. Then refraction through the atmosphere would degrade the beam.

Railgun....

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:22:40 PM EDT

[#9]

Its impossible. After the first hole the soda will jet out and tip the can over. Next question.

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:23:48 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
www.nobell.org/~gjm/nobell/images/sw02.jpg

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:25:51 PM EDT

[#11]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Diet soda or regular? It makes a HUGE difference.

Ok...diet.

In that case, the answer is ... 42!

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:26:38 PM EDT

[#12]

As with all radiation energy is halved evert time distance is doubled.

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:31:10 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Its impossible. After the first hole the soda will jet out and tip the can over. Next question.

Ok the can is secure to the ground because one of astronaut Allen Shepards gold balls is resting on top of the can wont fall over.

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:41:47 PM EDT

[#14]

Here you go. Just light it up and melt it.

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:43:25 PM EDT

[#15]

There's a soda can on the moon? Who did that?

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:47:29 PM EDT

[#16]

1/4 inch hole? Fire up the Deathstar, you ain't getting a beam that small from earth to moon.

CW

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:49:25 PM EDT

[#17]

1.21 jigowatts

Posted: 10/31/2004 8:51:52 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
1/4 inch hole? Fire up the Deathstar, you ain't getting a beam that small from earth to moon.

CW

so whats a reasonable size?

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:01:35 PM EDT

[#19]

Lets assume that you want a small hole ~ 10mm for convenient unit. The diffraction limited spot size of a lens is 1.27*L*F# (pick L to be 10.6um "CO2 Laser", and we solve for f#). So to focus a laser to a 10mm diameter spot we needs a lens with a focal length of 384403 km and a diameter of ~ 51748 km. Now energy density we need to get to 1400C is ~ 3.2KW/cm^2 .

So power is power you need 3.2 KW/cm^2 to burn. Plus you need enough power to overcome the atmospheric attenuation. Then you need a really big lens to focus. You will also need an adaptive optics mirror to overcome the atmospheric disturbances.

There is more but this is most of it and it is late.

roptics

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:12:51 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Quoted:
1/4 inch hole? Fire up the Deathstar, you ain't getting a beam that small from earth to moon.

CW

so whats a reasonable size?

Read roptics post and do the math. I would use a graser instead of a laser, but that's your choice.

CW

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:17:02 PM EDT

[#21]

Tell me how the soda can got on the moon, unopened, first.

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:19:13 PM EDT

[#22]

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:20:02 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Diet soda or regular? It makes a HUGE difference.

Ok...diet.

Coke, Pepsi, or generic?

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:25:08 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
There's a soda can on the moon? Who did that?

Probably some irresponsible asshole, water skiing on the Sea of Tranquility. Jerks.

Edit: can't spell

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:28:38 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
1/4 inch hole? Fire up the Deathstar, you ain't getting a beam that small from earth to moon.

CW

so whats a reasonable size?

Read roptics post and do the math. I would use a graser instead of a laser, but that's your choice.

CW

Interesting, Gamma Ray Laser or Graser, has been a problem for engineers and scientists for 30+ years.
Something called LEGS: www.legs.bnl.gov/

Have to read more on this!

Railgun....

Posted: 10/31/2004 9:30:56 PM EDT

[#26]

Just use a .50 cal and be done with it! If it can shoot down 747s and satellites, I'm sure it can punch soda cans on the moon!

Posted: 10/31/2004 10:17:08 PM EDT

[#27]

TROLL

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How powerfull and what wavelength of a laser would it take to melt a soda can on the moon?

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