How It Works: The Flying Laser Cannon

Can the Laser Cannon be tuned to drill holes into the earth as an alternative to drill bits and shafts? My thought is YES, it could. It would drill straight assuming no reflective surfaces en route and drill fast so that going down several miles would be rapid, the molten soil and rock seeping off to the sides of the hole into more porous material perhaps creating a solid shaft so piping isn't needed. Pipe material and coating selections are difficult when dealing with soils' acids, caustics and very high temperatures and temperature changes internally and externally.

To what purpose? To tap geothermal energy from magma deep within the earth and bring it to the surface in the form of steam from circulated water and then use it to drive generators or heat buildings as happens now in Iceland.

Using a closed steam loop reduces Carbon Dioxide emissions to zero, something that no fossil fuels can claim. Using the steam in an open loop system reduces Carbon Dioxide emissions to 10% of what fossil fuels create.

Sorry, valprest, but that isn't really all that likely to work

As you vaporize the "dirt" (rock, whatever) it will create a gaseous form of the former dirt which will obscure the target from further heating. You might be able to do something by pulsing it, but the amount of energy needed to vaporize that much earth would be anything but trivial. You might be able to do something like this (maaaaybe) with a satellite and solar cells to drive it, but such a thing would be just as usable as a weapon and weaponizing space, while I'm sure it eventually will happen, isn't on anyone's "Hy, Great Idea!" list right now.

The other obvious issue is how, exactly, did you plan to maintain a constant position over the hole looking straight down? Might be doable with some sort of balloon/dirigible object, but even there you'd still need to secure it using lines over a fairly fixed location, something which has been one of the chief banes of lighter-than-air travel for a century now -- mooring and docking issues. A plane would be impractical for this, as it couldn't perform the sort of tight circle needed to keep the weapon even vaguely close to the vertical line required.

The application specified works well because you presumably don't need a sustained beam on-target, and, if you did, you can fly for more than a minute in the direction of the target object

Thanks OBloody Hell but I dismounted the drill and put it on an overhead crane so it wasn't flying. However I think the presence of water would be more of a problem than melting or spraying soil and rock. Thanks for your thoughts.

Val Prest

Oooooh, cool...If this thing can burn a hole thru a tank, think what it could do to an ammunition bunker...I was going with the idea of using microwave energy to set off the ammo, but this thing would work as well...Kinda hard to fight without ammo, I would think, plus it would be rather demoralizing to know that your own ammo is going to take you out of the action...Just a thought...

"If a bird flew into the firing laser’s line of sight— well, no more bird. Fortunately, the weapon will fire for only a few seconds at a time, minimizing the risk."

I'm glad we've minimized risk to small birds while frying human beings. I'll reset easier now!

tone

I'll admit the technology is cool and brings back memories of teenage sci-fi fantasies but there needs to be some perspective here. Sure, the author is clearly being politically correct to avoid the part about melting/boiling people in the process (never mind the birds). Everyone seems to think the soldiers are "just following orders" - just like our boys are and we are supposed to "support our troops" just as our opponents are supposed to support theirs. Everyone seems, conveniently, to forget the hypocrisies of their tepid mottos and slogans or did we all forget the typical Nazi soldier was also "following orders"? What has happened to personal accountability and doing the right thing at the right and wrong time? How about if all this energy and thought processes went into actually trying to find resolutions and peaceful solutions instead of Darth Vadering everyone to death? Think people. Think.

If I were a tank commander, I'd be checking my kit right now to make sure I had packed my shaving mirror!

5 miles away and 10000 feet high? You can take down that plane with a slingshot. To burn holes in a tank on the firing range no problem, to touch a "live" tank with all defence systems from 5 miles away sounds like a challenge.

Why not just mount a bunch of mirrors (not glass ones) on top of the tank?

Doesn't this sound like the plot of "Real Genius"?

Uh-huh. Nazis also ate,drank,slept,andsmoked, JUST LIKE OUR TROOPS. Does that mske war bad?

Coweater
They're what's for dinner, so just deal with it.

...okay, and mirrors are indestructable????? perhaps this would simply burn a hole through them with the intense heat? Okay, I admit my physics or metalurgy (sp?) skills are impaired with lack of education, BUT will a mirror reflect ANY and EVERY element of light without any possible damage to the mirror?
signed: I don't know!!

...so let me get this straight...if you were in combat and a enemy soldier points his rifle at you, you would ask him politely to 'please, pretty please, set your rifle down and don't shoot me'!??. Really? ...REALLY? You must not have an understanding of WAR. I am not concerned with a bird getting toasted, might be tasty, but I would definitely kill any enemy soldier and would not care if I used a bullet or a laser, but he WILL NOT be able to shoot back at me or any of my fellow soldiers or citizens, including you, now or later!!
God bless my side and NOT the enemy!!
Please think again and don't equate all soldiers with Nazi's. That is left-wing liberal nonsense.

War is bad, most reasonable people will agree. But in war, it is kill or be killed, so what does it matter if that killing is done with a bullet, bomb, or laser?

Semper Fi

I believe that the lazer could be used as an alternative to drill bits in oil drilling. If you put the lazer on the pipe line in the place of a drill bit it could drill much deeper and without having to worry about it breaking so that we could gain access to more energy.

I have to say, although I used to subscribe to the idea that military budgets were bloated and that we ought to be funneling more of that money into "good deeds" around the world, I don't necessarily agree with that anymore.

I'm hardly being "pro-war" here, but I am pointing out that evil is an abiding presence in the world, and you can't reason with it. I don't mean you can never reason with *people*, but I'm saying that evil will persist in different spots on the globe *all the time*, and sometimes it collects so much in one location that it explodes outward into other people's homes and nations, and those homes and nations must be defended.

And I think high-tech weaponry is especially important for having that much more of an advantage over our enemies, especially in light of the Islamisation of Europe now ongoing. If the Muslims eventually take over Europe through sheer numbers, North America will feel that much more grateful for having high-tech on their side.

First off, Muslims taking over Europe shouldn't be the motive behind advancing our military. Al-Qaeda taking over Europe is another story. And I agree with ad101867; spending on war technologies can have positive impacts on civilians, like radio and M&M's. I say let's use whatever we can to defend America and the American way of life.

Jack Hamilton

WOW!!!!!

Using a laser on the battlefield may be a good thing. Mounting it in a slow flying unarmed aircraft sounds like a really bad idea. In fact, after the US has spent billions to develop the technology we can look forward to our next opponent stealing the technology and mounting it inside a steel shipping container (conex box) and using it as a fairly effective antiaircraft weapon (especially against slow low flying C-130's trying to locate and destroy ground targets with their lasers).

After they've shot down a few planes with the shipping container AA system, they can just start moving empty shipping containers into an area to scare away attacking planes.

Keep working on the laser, but re-think that platform idea.

for actual deployment, the laser will probably be mounted on an armed aircraft...

This article mentioned 40,000 pounds of chemicals to power the laser. But what about free-electron lasers? Would'nt that save a lot of weight?
Also: if the prototype costs $200,000,000 why would it possibly see combat use "within five years". Would'nt that be a big risk?
Thirdly: the laser's fuel would be high-maintanance, which leads me to question its common usage, in addition to the above reasons.
That said, I still enjoyed this article a lot and thought it interesting.

Might be able to defeat the laser using various ablative coatings in combination with an applique armor (composite or laminated armor).

Ablative coatings and/or ceramics are used to protect surfaces and structural integrity from high temperature and erosion, e.g., Space Shuttle, missiles, rockets, and high speed aircraft, etc.

Great article.

Question: In which issue of the print edition of Popular Science was this published?

mylar- the laser version of kevlar

If the laser is emitting visible light only, what would happen if it hit a prism? Would you get a rainbow of lasers burning away in every direction?

Also, if a tank is painted white or a mirror chrome, will the laser be reflected?

scotteye-that is the best idea I have heard so far. If the US is going to mount a laser on any aircraft, armed or not, there is a chance of it falling into enemy hands. If they don't want that risk, they should,like, use your crate idea. The part about using the empty boxes to scare away planes was helarious.

c-ya l8r

If I had one of these I would use it on your FUCKING FACE

alexgumby

Article Rating: 003/18/08 at 11:20 am

"I'll admit the technology is cool and brings back memories of teenage sci-fi fantasies but there needs to be some perspective here. Sure, the author is clearly being politically correct to avoid the part about melting/boiling people in the process (never mind the birds). Everyone seems to think the soldiers are "just following orders" - just like our boys are and we are supposed to "support our troops" just as our opponents are supposed to support theirs. Everyone seems, conveniently, to forget the hypocrisies of their tepid mottos and slogans or did we all forget the typical Nazi soldier was also "following orders"? What has happened to personal accountability and doing the right thing at the right and wrong time? How about if all this energy and thought processes went into actually trying to find resolutions and peaceful solutions instead of Darth Vadering everyone to death? Think people. Think"

Ok, I am quoting your comment alexgumby to let you know that, for one, you can't compare a soldier defending his country from an evil dictator who wants to enslave and/or kill us all to a Nazi whos following that dictator. There is a huge difference between following orders to defend your family and country, and following orders to go kill innocent people, or put them in concentration camps or enslave others...your basically saying that we should look at the nazi's point of view, and sympathize with them that their fighting for their country. No, their not, their fighting for a dictator who thinks all jewish should be killed and that he should rule the world and enslave all other races except anyone whos white with blonde hair and blue eyes. Your argument doesn't bear any merit or purpose and I find it profoundly obtuse. It's as if your siding with the Nazi's, it's people like you that dont even deserve to be an american. The kind of thinking you do motivates people to act in such negative and sophimorical way, get a life.

Oh and FYI I am majoring in Laser physics, Astrophysics and Quantam Mechanics, currently in college right now, about to be on my 4th year. Mirrors wont stop that sort of laser. This is an advanced tactical laser used with pressurized nitrogen, as you can see in the display. Mirrors can stop Photonic crystal lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Excimer lasers and Chemical lasers, even Solid State Lasers.

All those beams are Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, and if you look closely, the beginning of each letter of that definition spells out LASER
The tactical laser their using though isn't stimulated emission of radiation, it uses pressurized nitrogen, again as you can see in the display.

alexgumby

Article Rating: 003/18/08 at 11:20 am

"I'll admit the technology is cool and brings back memories of teenage sci-fi fantasies but there needs to be some perspective here. Sure, the author is clearly being politically correct to avoid the part about melting/boiling people in the process (never mind the birds). Everyone seems to think the soldiers are "just following orders" - just like our boys are and we are supposed to "support our troops" just as our opponents are supposed to support theirs. Everyone seems, conveniently, to forget the hypocrisies of their tepid mottos and slogans or did we all forget the typical Nazi soldier was also "following orders"? What has happened to personal accountability and doing the right thing at the right and wrong time? How about if all this energy and thought processes went into actually trying to find resolutions and peaceful solutions instead of Darth Vadering everyone to death? Think people. Think"

Ok, I am quoting your comment alexgumby to let you know that, for one, you can't compare a soldier defending his country from an evil dictator who wants to enslave and/or kill us all to a Nazi whos following that dictator. There is a huge difference between following orders to defend your family and country, and following orders to go kill innocent people, or put them in concentration camps or enslave others...your basically saying that we should look at the nazi's point of view, and sympathize with them that their fighting for their country. No, their not, their fighting for a dictator who thinks all jewish should be killed and that he should rule the world and enslave all other races except anyone whos white with blonde hair and blue eyes. Your argument doesn't bear any merit or purpose and I find it profoundly obtuse. It's as if your siding with the Nazi's, it's people like you that dont even deserve to be an american. The kind of thinking you do motivates people to act in such negative and sophimorical way, get a life.

Oh and FYI I am majoring in Laser physics, Astrophysics and Quantam Mechanics, currently in college right now, about to be on my 4th year. Mirrors wont stop that sort of laser. This is an advanced tactical laser used with pressurized nitrogen, as you can see in the display. Mirrors can stop Photonic crystal lasers, Semiconductor lasers, Excimer lasers and Chemical lasers, even Solid State Lasers.

All those beams are Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, and if you look closely, the beginning of each letter of that definition spells out LASER
The tactical laser their using though isn't stimulated emission of radiation, it uses pressurized nitrogen, again as you can see in the display.

next on the to do list...build the Death Star.

OK, I Love hi-tech military stuff, admittedly. HOWEVER, as of late, I am beginning to be concerned about the MIS-use of these weapons. If our government goes wrong, say, goes facist. And the military is used against the people, weapons like robot drones and airborne lasers become a frightening prospect. But of course, we have our Constitution... Just a piece of parchment, my friends. Being shredded before our eyes as we speak. But, you say, the military won't go along...Really? I think up to 75% would go along if properly lied to. So, just think about unseen drones, watching you and yours, and airborne lasers to fry anyone who isn't following the rules of the state. Still think it can't happen here?

I'm adding it on my weapons to construct super list.

Generally reflecting isn't going to be a battle friendly possibility. Any dust is going to cause it to fail. Also not very cammo friendly and hard to have in the right spot.

I would bet on some kind of ablative shielding or ceramic insulation (like used for reentry). You only need to hold a few seconds in any one spot and auto fire a laser tracking responce. Laser targeting is well worked out and a c130 is like trying to hit the ground with a rock, big slow prop plane. Also since it occupies the entire cargo bay, even a hit that doesn't take out the plane will likely take out the weapon and possibly fill the plane with yummy toxic, explosive fumes.

As some one else mentioned - 5 miles and 10000 feet is way to close for a c130 to fighting. Of course as long as we keep fighting guys with sticks - who cares if its realistic?

My responses to this article and its comments:

1. Instead of mounting lasers on planes and tanks, why don't they first find a way to put it in hand-held weopons like rifles or handguns?

2. Someone mentioned how if the plane got shot down, the "enemy" might steal the technology and use it against us, that is a possibility, but what would most likly happen would be #1: The laser would be severely damaged in the crash and they wouldn't get anything from it. #2: The plane would explode upon impact, rendering possible retrieval to a 99.99% minimum, not to mention releasing all that gas.

3. It's nice to see millions of dollars going towards more ways to kill people.

4. People comparing each other to Nazis and others like them. All you people saying things like: "Nazis were evil! They killed jews!" or "Hitler was evil!", just shut up and stop posting. There are no such things as "good" and "evil". What's good to some people is evil to others, and whats evil to some is good to others. There are no set guidlines to what's "good" and "evil". We just have to rely on what we think is good and evil, and what we've been taught about it, and what around us affects it. For example, a nazi soldier's choices: kill jews and live, or say no to killing and be named a traitor and executed? They were forced to do it, so it was either kill or be branded a traitor and killed. Also, some of them didn't say NO because if they were killed, their family (or at least some members of their families) would be heartbroken. Everybody has a heart. And it's the same thing with all peoples. For example, the jews mistreating the israelies. And what about the americans puttinf the japanese into their own concentration camps after pearl harbor? Are you people saying it's evil putting jews in concentration camps, yet it's fine and okay to put japanese people into concentration camps? Stop calling others evil, and look at yourself and your country. Can you really say that you are "good" and not "evil"? The answer is, and always will be, no. And who is to blame? Nobody. Not Hitler, not Bush, not obama, not Mussolini, nobody. The "Thing" to blame, is called human nature.

5. As everybody with an ounce of sense can see, laser technology has gone from being created to help people, it's ending up to be used to destroy and kill people, aka: The metal-ore goes in and comes out a sword. Why can't people see what technology is doing to them? They celphone is created and people can text each other now. Ending? Teenagers walkng into traffic "lol'ing" their friend, and they get run-over and die.

Those are my responses. Sorry for the length, I sorta get carried away when I'm writing about stuff like this. Do not take my responses negatively, as they are not meant for that. I am not a racist, I am not a hippie, I am on nobodies side, just stating my opinion. People don't seem to realize that A Nazi saying that a movie is good is the exact same thing as a classmate saying that the same movie is good.

Spite cloud i get what you mean about how there is no evil or god. Still one thing you messes up was that in America even if we did put the Japanese in to camps they were not the same as the ones that the Nazis put the Jewish people in.

1. In the Japanese camps no one was killed and they were all fed well.

2. In the Jewish camps they were put to labor and the old or to young were killed in brutal was.

3. Also in Jewish camps Nazi scientist would test on children with out any anesthetic at all. They would be cut into while awake, or dye put into their eyes to try to make them blue awake.

Also i agree with the part that most of the Nazis were not evil but just forced to do what they did, but some were still evil. All countries have evil people like Muslim people are not bad, but they have just the small group of people who think killing is okay. America even in the past did some evil acts like forcefully removing native Americans from their homes, and 1000s of the native Americans died on the trail of tears.

@CaptainWinters

I have to correct this. As a physics major you should know better.

This laser is a chemical laser that uses singlet state excited oxygen to pump molecular iodine into a 2P3/2 excited state.

The excited oxygen has no emission pathway to a lower state except by collisions with iodine. The lifetime of this excited state is 45mins, which is more than enough time to allow for collisions.

The 2P3/2 state of iodine is also stable enough to allow a population inversion between the ground 2P1/2 state and the excited state, before stimulated emission can occur.

The nitrogen takes no part in the laser action as it is not excited by collisions with the oxygen. With gaseous nitrogen lasers electrical discharges are usually used pump the nitrogen into an excited state.

The ony use the nitrogen has in this system is to allow the reaction to occur under inert atmosphere (otherwise the excited oxygen would make hydroxy radicals with the water in the air), and as a carrier for the iodine mist.

All lasers require pumping of atoms or molecules into an excited state and all lasers require a population inversion to occur between the ground and excited state before stimulated emission can take place.

A tactical laser is a laser than has military applications, not a different sort of laser.

Here is a paper for reference http://www.psicorp.com/sr-1231.pdf

i've read it was because of north korea's rocket that they resurected the idea of a plane having a laser
http://airsoc.com/articles/view/id/4fc179cfc6f8fa3349000058/airplane-mounted-laser-weapon-project?ev=10&evp=tl

@stoutkraut i have to disagree here there are some morals involved here. Bio wpns, radiation based dirty bombs and things like that are not right and yet they still kill...but slowly and painfully. This laser system is a HUGE advantage because of its precision and lack of collateral damage and civilain casualties. Its better than any other precision bomb because of that. Therefore how you kill DOES matter. War is bad and sometimes unavoidable yes no one denies it but if we can defeat an enemy with as little casualties as possible then its a success.

Popsci also posted an article about a month ago about a focused EMP weapon that took out a room of computers. If you went in with f-22's and -35's to take out just weapons emplacements then ,under escort of course, you sent in a wave of these flying lasers and the EMP missiles to takeout defense computer servers, power lines, radar facilities, and things like that you have just taken out critical systems leaving them help less. And the only casualties would be soldiers manning the weapons emplacements and such in the civilian area the precision laser and emp took out most communication, power, sense of security. BAM!! Area is now ready for ground forces to move in and force surrender.

Ok i dont want to sound completely neieve about war and there will be casualties and that plan could use work but i think you get my over-arching concept that you can fight "peacefully" and that IT DOES MATTER HOW YOU FIGHT be it a plane a bullet or a bomb