shropshire 0 #1 February 22, 2007 QuoteThe Solid State Heat Capacity Laser (SSHCL) has achieved 67 kilowatts (kW) of average power in the laboratory. It could take only a further six to eight months to break the "magic" 100kW mark required for the battlefield, the project's chief scientist told the BBC. Technology appears to be advancing quickly. Interesting times. I still think that a weapon can be easily defeated, but this is a stunning advance in delivered power. Source...clicky (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZJ 0 #2 February 22, 2007 The gap between science fiction and scientific fact gets ever narrower. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,219 #3 February 22, 2007 QuoteQuoteThe Solid State Heat Capacity Laser (SSHCL) has achieved 67 kilowatts (kW) of average power in the laboratory. It could take only a further six to eight months to break the "magic" 100kW mark required for the battlefield, the project's chief scientist told the BBC. Technology appears to be advancing quickly. Interesting times. I still think that a weapon can be easily defeated, but this is a stunning advance in delivered power. Source...clicky Anyone got a nice corner reflector?... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #4 February 22, 2007 QuoteIn our 25kW configuration and our 2.5 sq cm spot size on a one-inch thick steel target, we blow a hole through it in seven seconds So how much power is required to severely injure an adult in less than one second? Wanna bet they are working on the low powered backpack version? Can the hand held be far behind? John Rich will be pissed when they don't allow civilian ownership in UK. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 3 #5 February 22, 2007 They can have my phaser when they pry it out of my dead, cold fingers. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #6 February 22, 2007 Hey, phasers don't burn people, bad people with phasers burn people. If you took a criminal's phaser away, he'd just use a torch. If you took an honest citizen's phaser away, then the criminals would just burn him too. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,173 #7 February 22, 2007 >Can the hand held be far behind? Hand held laser weapons aren't very useful. If you fire it at a white target, you instantly go blind. (Visible light certainly has this problem; some invisible wavelengths are even worse.) If you fire it at a reflective surface (say polished metal) you die. Reflective clothing defeats it. At very high power levels (like we're talking here) it instantly identifies the shooter. Even a little dirt/water on the exit aperture will destroy the weapon. These may indeed have some use as anti-missile weapons or antiaircraft weapons; lasers excel at accuracy and speed over long distances. But I doubt you'll be seeing "laser pistols" any time soon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 3 #8 February 22, 2007 Sigh. Thanks for the buzz-kill, Bill. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #9 February 22, 2007 Yes.... but.....but they're still SEXY (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #10 February 22, 2007 QuoteSigh. Thanks for the buzz-kill, Bill. They can take my mirror shield with the white border when they pry it from my cold dead hands. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 3 #11 February 22, 2007 The Romulans have sonic disruptors. I'm getting me one of those. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #12 February 22, 2007 You boy aren't taking this too serious (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #13 February 22, 2007 QuoteThe Romulans have sonic disruptors. I'm getting me one of those. I'm getting me a stick with a pointy end. They don't reflect off mirrors and ear plugs don't reduce their effectiveness. oh, "cold-dead-hands" ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,173 #14 February 23, 2007 >I'm getting me a stick with a pointy end. Sgt.: Right. Now, self-defence. Tonight I shall be carrying on from where we got to last week when I was showing you how to defend yourselves against anyone who attacks you with armed with a piece of fresh fruit. Palin: Oh, you promised you wouldn't do fruit this week. Sgt.: What do you mean? Jones: We've done fruit the last nine weeks. Sgt.: What's wrong with fruit? You think you know it all, eh? Palin: Can't we do something else? Idle (Welsh): Like someone who attacks you with a pointed stick? Sgt.: Pointed stick? Oh, oh, oh. We want to learn how to defend ourselves against pointed sticks, do we? Getting all high and mighty, eh? Fresh fruit not good enough for you eh? Well I'll tell you something my lad. When you're walking home tonight and some great homicidal maniac comes after you with a bunch of loganberries, don't come crying to me! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
willard 0 #15 February 23, 2007 QuoteI'm getting me a stick with a pointy end. You'll put your eye out! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #16 February 23, 2007 We already did Logan berries. Bananas!! we haven't done bananas. ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
willard 0 #17 February 23, 2007 Quote>Can the hand held be far behind? Hand held laser weapons aren't very useful. If you fire it at a white target, you instantly go blind. (Visible light certainly has this problem; some invisible wavelengths are even worse.) If you fire it at a reflective surface (say polished metal) you die. Reflective clothing defeats it. At very high power levels (like we're talking here) it instantly identifies the shooter. Even a little dirt/water on the exit aperture will destroy the weapon. These may indeed have some use as anti-missile weapons or antiaircraft weapons; lasers excel at accuracy and speed over long distances. But I doubt you'll be seeing "laser pistols" any time soon. Everything you listed is a pretty big hurdle to jump. I agree that "laser pistols" won't be on the frontlines anytime soon, if at all. But think of this... If you knew your adversary had them you would have to go to great lengths to protect against them. Anything you didn't want a hole burned through would have to meet one of the conditions you stated. That in itself would be a real PIA. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZJ 0 #18 February 23, 2007 I've got a mental image of terrorists wrapping themselves in tin foil to defeat this weapon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 3 #19 February 23, 2007 QuoteI've got a mental image of terrorists wrapping themselves in tin foil to defeat this weapon. Sonic disruptors will defeat reflective surfaces. I'd give you the proof, but I'm still working on my patent application. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rehmwa 2 #20 February 23, 2007 Quote If you fire it at a reflective surface (say polished metal) you die. Reflective clothing defeats it. I saw Kirk zap lots of guys in shiny stuff with his 'phaser' and they burned up and disappeared. Now, who are you gonna believe, 'some guy' with a little science and engineering background , or the writers and special effects 'professionals' from a 60's television series ... Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
