Battery implies touching, I think. They probably wouldn’t charge you for doing it through the medium of light. Also, when you say “not just an assualt,” I hope you realize assualt is the more serious of the charges, requiring, as it does, violence. Mere battery is non-violent, and can be rather benign.
If I swing a baseball bat at you for no good reason I’ve assaulted you.
If I manage to hit you with that same bat, I’ve also battered (batteried) you.
If I carelessly bump into you walking down the street, neither assault nor battery has happened.