Laser Cannons --> Military --> Spam

[Cyrien]

Originally posted by geoschmo:
Good list Cyrien. Two minor nitpicks.

The original mechanical and electromechanical computers were actually being used to calulate artillery trajectories before the invention of ICBMs. But the principle is correct.

And nuclear power is one on your list that I believe the early research was in the area of power generation and later was harnessed for it's explosive potential. I could be wrong about that though. Maybe the early reactors were just about making enough useable material to build a bomb.

Yes. The scientiests were researching nuclear potential before WW2. But once it broke out they got all the money they could ever want. The first working nuclear generators did nothing but provide material for bombs, but they could have theoretically been used to provide power as well. In point of fact it is very likely that had WW2 not broken out actuall usable nuclear power and weapons would not have been around until many decades later. There is something to be said for crash military programs to make the ultimate weapon.

And yes you are right about the artillery projectiles as well for the first ones, but I am also right about the later ones and advances in them for more complicated ICBM calculations.

So YAY! to us.

[Wardad]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Keep in mind that a lot of modern technology was pioneered by the military as a means to kill people more effectively...

All generalizations are false.

[Puke]

someone brought up mirrors, to target or deflect lasers, a page or so back.

while that works for low powered lasers, i believe these days most are directed by magnetic fields, much like the particle guns in side a television tube. the problem with mirrors - especially on more powerfull beams - is that they actually are not all that reflective. even with a reflection index of about 90%, which is nigh impossible to create and maintain, a laser will quickly damage or destroy the mirror. most of the problem lies in that mirrors are not all that reflective, the rest of the problem lies in that the reflectiveness is highly subject to damage and is hard to maintain (frequent polishing, must controll exposure to elements, temperature...)

somone else mentioned laser propulsion for space vehicles - i believe nasa recently flew the first small craft (model airplane) powered entirely by lasers. maybe a week or two ago.

[Fyron]

Originally posted by Wardad:

quote:

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Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Keep in mind that a lot of modern technology was pioneered by the military as a means to kill people more effectively...

All generalizations are false.

---

That is not a generalization... it does not say that all tech was pioneered by the military, or that all tech that was pioneered by the military is a means to kill people more effetively...

[Phoenix-D]

Originally posted by Puke:
someone brought up mirrors, to target or deflect lasers, a page or so back.

while that works for low powered lasers, i believe these days most are directed by magnetic fields, much like the particle guns in side a television tube.

Photons don't have an electrical charge, you can't direct them with magnetic fields IIRC. The TV uses electrons, which -do- have a charge.

[Wardad]

Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:

quote:

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Originally posted by Wardad:

quote:

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Originally posted by Imperator Fyron:
Keep in mind that a lot of modern technology was pioneered by the military as a means to kill people more effectively...

All generalizations are false.

---

That is not a generalization... it does not say that all tech was pioneered by the military, or that all tech that was pioneered by the military is a means to kill people more effetively...

---

Got your GOAT!!!

[Wardad]

Originally posted by Phoenix-D:

quote:

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Originally posted by Puke:
someone brought up mirrors, to target or deflect lasers, a page or so back.

while that works for low powered lasers, i believe these days most are directed by magnetic fields, much like the particle guns in side a television tube.

Photons don't have an electrical charge, you can't direct them with magnetic fields IIRC. The TV uses electrons, which -do- have a charge.

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Right. A CRT uses an electron gun.

A laser mirror must be relective at the laser frequency. We used a CO2 laser to mark Intergated Circuit epoxy packaging (IC chips). The mirrors were (copper?) not good for personal use.

[EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro]

Which bring up the question "What ever happened to particle beam weapons?" Back in the late '80s the Soviets were supposed to be ahead in this field and rumors were they were going to put one on a Kirov class cruiser. I heard that these weapons were going to pack quite a wallop. Like being sand bLasted, lased and electrocuted all at once. The down side is that they were defeated by magnetic fields (deflector shields?) and were bended even more by gravity than light and were therefore even hard to target over long ranges. Jane's defence weekly says that the U.S. Navy is looking at fuel cell powered ships with less maintenance and more surplus electricity available....things that make you go "hmm"
I think fuel cells and weapons grade chemical lasers might even use the same caustic chemicals.
Hmmmmm!

[TerranC]

To Cyrien: You forgot SPAM.

[Cyrien]

Spam was created before WW2 and not by the military.

It was made popular and brought into the mass market by WW2 though.