[Paul Ross]

Is it correct to assume that the kill rate is limited by the length of the 'kill exposure' required for each type of target ? Sorry for making up the term 'kill exposure'. Don't know what they actually call it.

That's okay. "Dwell time" is the nomenclature of choice in the biz. All are just verbal abbreviations to express this idea: Keep the beam on target sufficiently long for destruction. This dwell-time can vary based on target "hardness" or distance issues. Hence, the system has to be able to ascertain when the target either disintegrates or is sufficiently damaged as to permit transition to other targets. Thus in theory, as you surmise, rate-of-kill is limited by the length of that required dwell time. Most effective exposures have been extremely short in duration to have the destructive success, however.

[justa-hairyape]

Very cool. You could also probably vary the beam intensity fairly easily and obviously maximum intensity would be restricted by cooling rates of the mirror. Wonder if you can use smaller combined beams (4 small beams that come together on target). That might make heat more manageable. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for the info.

Later.