Laser Cannons --> Military --> Spam

[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.

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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...

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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!