Posted: 4/11/2008 8:13:27 PM EDT
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Yes, I was watching Star Trek. Anyway, I don't know much about lasers. What are the real problems with handheld or at least rifle sized laser weapons? Anyone a laser expert here? |
Ummm, power supply and output. There is a reason the anti missle type lasers being developed take up a whole 747. There are many different types, it is not like amplifying a laser pointer. 
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No need for the tard face. I said I don't know anything about them. I was asking to find out this stuff. 
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The Airborne Laser is chemical. It can only fire so many times before needing a re-fill (on the ground). Lasers have traditionally suffered from poor ratios of input power to beam power. Newer technologies like solid state diode-slab-pumped lasers and fiber lasers are overcoming this. The free electron laser offers the best long-term solution, especially when a superconducting system recirculates the electron beam. At the same time, portable power systems are improving in capacity and weight. But for the near term, rifle or pistol lasers will not be deadly. |
I figured it wouldn't be soon, I was just asking if it was possible, and are we heading in that direction. My next question would be how it would work. How long would it take to penetrate 12" of flesh? Would it take too long to be worth it? |
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It takes a certain amount of power to do a given amount of damage. Right now, tactical lasers that can mount on a vehicle are nearing (more likely passing) 10 kilowatts. It would probably take upwards of 20 seconds for that to bore through 12 inches of flesh. Are you gonna stand still for that? Blinding, on the other hand, is easy (even though it's "against the rules"). The amount of power needed to punch right through a human body (like in the movies) is probably in the megawatts. And that's not going to be a portable system anytime in the foreseeable future. |
So, it would all be fairly achievable if we only had a magic tiny super power supply? |
Maybe we can acquire a mini zpm and harness the power of sub space. |
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Sorry, I didn't mean it that way. As a side note, just as a simple computer equal to a wrist watch today would have taken up a large room back in the day, the tech will improve and the military will be the first to use it. The main issue is power input vs. power output. You can't change the laws of physics, so at the most optimal configuration you could get most of the applied power as output, so how it is focused and directed at a target would be the key. |
You would need a gas cartridge and an insane battery. Not much gas would be required to make a small plasma projectile. The problem comes with the power the battery would need to charge that gas and how do you make the porjectile stay together long enough to kill a distant target. They know how to make plasma, they know what gases would work best in a plasma weapon but the other components cannot be overcome with current tech. |
They are just beginning to learn how to make self-stabilized plasmas that remain cohesive in atmosphere. And such plasmas have lower energy delivery than a decent laser (they are not being developed as offensive weapons - yet). And lasers offer the chance to fine-tune the delivered power in a wavelength the target will absorb. Especially the free electron laser. |
Heat is another problem. Plus all laser weapons would accomplish would be severe burning on the single point. If the beam were spread out maybe 1 MOA that would probably be enough to incapacitate someone, and it won't be pretty. Electromagnetically launched projectiles will be/are the next step. |
Slight problem, RECOIL! Man portability is another. |
Lol que? I didn't read the OP. 
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Recoil is barely the same issue as it is with current weapons. Reports of heavy recoil is from extremely large and heavy projectiles. And if there were a power source small and powerful enough to use powerful lasers with, it would be a better move to use use that power source in em-weapons. |
