America Takes Huge Step Toward Laser Weapon

Wired/Yidwithlid ^ | 3/18/09 | Yidwithlid

[Shellybenoit]

The United States has taken a big leap in creating a real laser weapon. Until now electric lasers have not been able to generate the strength need for use on the battle field. There were chemical-based lasers that could do the job, but the chemicals were dangerous for the soldiers operating them.

A new breakthrough has enabled Electric lasers have hit battlefield strength for the first time paving the way for energy weapons to go to war. While these weapons will not be strong enough to be an offensive weapon the will work on a defensive basis, shooting mortars and missiles out of the sky. Read more below:

[beethovenfan]

Never mind, Odingbat will cancel the program.

[the long march]

I hate it when so called science bits are so poorly written ( not your fault). It is NOT a friggin electric laser. The lasing medium is a crystal ( garnet ——first proof of lasing in solid state device used ruby). I guess what they are really trying to say is that the lasing can be initiated by electrical pulse or input from an eletrically driven device ( eg LED or laser diode). These is just a series of oscillators and has been the competing idea for a long time. Chemical lasers (aside from scalability and other issues) are just too darned tough to work with (even in the lab).

[BOBTHENAILER]

“We’re not wasting good, vote buying money on UNPROVEN military projects.” sayeth the obamination.

[KoRn]

Thanks for your input. You are certainly better than the above “author”.

[xp38]

On Sharks?