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To: GSlob
And who or what would prevent the excremists from polishing their rockets to mirror finish to deflect away most of the laser energy?

Because it doesn't work. This has been tested. It fails because there is too much infrared absorption and "shock kill" destroying the booster structural integrity. This countermeasure was always cavalierly postulated by the bozos at the FAS, Federation of American Scientists, a liberal anti-defense unthink tank (with few real scientists) which the MSM relied on to oppose SDI. Surprising they never admitted when they were debunked.

It is very cheap, too, in comparison with THEL.

Not since it doesn't work.

With shells and mortars it is more tricky as powder gases leave their residue.

Doesn't work for those reasons...and the above. Infrared absorption can't be deflected with mirror finish.

26 posted on 07/22/2006 3:46:16 PM PDT by Paul Ross (We cannot be for lawful ordinances and for an alien conspiracy at one and the same moment.-Cicero)
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To: Paul Ross

There are infrared/visual mirrors in the lab, and so there are the mirror materials, some of very high reflectivity. IR and visible light lasers have such mirrors as their parts, so right there one has all the necessary coating materials - no need to re-invent the wheel.


27 posted on 07/22/2006 4:06:18 PM PDT by GSlob
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To: Paul Ross
"shock kill"

Some very interesting physics going on there no doubt.

29 posted on 07/22/2006 5:32:34 PM PDT by justa-hairyape
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