Mad Scientists Craft Atomic Laser

[Versuvius]

I for one welcome our new atom-laser overlords from the US Department of Energy!

 

[gigastar]

But can it generate 1.21 jigawatts of energy?

More seriously: If this thing is even remotely portable, I could see it being used as an atomic-bomb level weapon, esp. on ships/heavy aircraft. The main problem is that it's so pinpoint - it can take out anything (missile defense seems promising), but only one thing at a time.

US Military is already playing around with railguns. They arent lasers, but lasers currently dont have the potenital to skewer a full sized battleship lengthwise in one shot. Plus the particular prototype model of railgun i saw was only a few metres long, this laser thing apparently is considerably longer.

 

[idodo35]

hmm so how long before this thing gets weponized? i give it around 5 years
also this just might be the first laser gun prototype how cool is that?

 

[vansau]

Well in Star Wars I believe they use Blasters, which are a particle projection technology which is a bit differant than focused light.

Seriously? You're *that* guy? Thanks for murdering my joke.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Anonymous will hack it and use it to destroy the world.

A guy can dream...

 

[Oly J]

Hmmmm...
Super-heating laser, powerful enough to (quite possibly) blow up planets?
Right, I need a freighter ship, some helicopters, and maybe a small assault team. I'm taking it.

is this a good place to sign up? lol anyway this is pretty cool, I just hope they do the right thing with this laser...precisely what the right thing might be I'll leave to imagination lol

 

[ErgoCSS]

Finally some progress, tho I wasn't expecting it to be in the Death Star department but still its impressive. Looking forward to Siege Tanks, Augmented Uber Soliders, and alien hotties.

 

[The Code]

But can it generate 1.21 jigawatts of energy?

More seriously: If this thing is even remotely portable, I could see it being used as an atomic-bomb level weapon, esp. on ships/heavy aircraft. The main problem is that it's so pinpoint - it can take out anything (missile defense seems promising), but only one thing at a time.

Better yet, mount that fucker on a satellite. Who needs a boat mounted death ray that fires from off shore when you can have a death ray installed on the ultimate high ground?

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Once we learn the secrets, then we can vaporize ourselves with the first test project. OR, flash roast an Ox in .03 seconds. Whichever is more practical.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

So, how long until we can affix this

Spoiler: ''Lazer''

to sharks?

 

[Alpha Maeko]

Lasers, quantum levitation, antimatter...

Next thing you know, we'll be visited by space hippies with pointy ears. Live long and prosper!

 

[6urk17s]

Lasers, quantum levitation, antimatter...

Next thing you know, we'll be visited by space hippies with pointy ears. Live long and prosper!

All we need to do is to figure out Warp drives, probably breaking a few Laws of physics on the way, and all will hail the Terran Empi- I meant and start a peaceful Federation!

 

[fix-the-spade]

All I can think is how long before someone tries to bolt one to a tank?

Might take a while to miniatursie it enough, but laser tank brigades? Terrifying and awesome and camp all at the same time.

Oh Captain they're coming straight for us! Quick hit him with your laser beams!

 

[chinlamp]

Ok first, if they were gonna point it at the Sun, they'd have to build a satellite to mount it on first, cos getting through the ozone layer would be to much of a hassle (Hell, for all I know, it could IGNITE the damn thing).

Second, pointing at OUR sun would be extremely stupid. If we were to cause our own stars processes to go out of balance by even a little, we could kill everyone on Earth relatively quickly, and that's no use to anyone.

Third, this is being used to make PLASMA. Think a little bigger than laser guns guys. Think fucking PLASMA THROWERS. Or, failing that, plasma rifles. Those are probably going to be a little easier to make than focusing these beams enough to kill people with a single shot.

 

[draythefingerless]

Ok first, if they were gonna point it at the Sun, they'd have to build a satellite to mount it on first, cos getting through the ozone layer would be to much of a hassle (Hell, for all I know, it could IGNITE the damn thing).

Second, pointing at OUR sun would be extremely stupid. If we were to cause our own stars processes to go out of balance by even a little, we could kill everyone on Earth relatively quickly, and that's no use to anyone.

Third, this is being used to make PLASMA. Think a little bigger than laser guns guys. Think fucking PLASMA THROWERS. Or, failing that, plasma rifles. Those are probably going to be a little easier to make than focusing these beams enough to kill people with a single shot.

wrong, wrong and what?

1. they re not pointing it at the sun.

2. even if they did, the laser heats things up to the temperature of a few layers into the sun, and doesnt do it to more than that. the sun is huge. if they shot at it, the most they would do in comparison, would be like burning one virus cell off your skin. its that fucking insignificant.

3. what?

 

[Oirish_Martin]

Jesus, an ATOMIC laser?

Oh wait, I think many lasers produce coherent light from atoms

 

[Lawnmooer]

Very cool news though and hey... War Mongers and be happy that even the most peaceful technology will oftentimes be corrupted for battle. I'm sure given time someone will eventually weaponize this... if they haven't already!

For some reason this just made me think of:

On Topic: With all this I'm hearing about lasers I'm wondering how far away some more portable lasers with some really decent practical aplications are.