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Electrolaser

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An electrolaser is a type of electroshock weapon which is also a directed-energy weapon. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC). A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel and delivered to the target, thus functioning overall as a large-scale, high energy, long-distance version of the Taser electroshock gun.

Alternating current is sent through a series of step-up transformers, increasing the voltage and decreasing the current. The final voltage may be between 108 and 109 volts.[citation needed] This current is fed into the plasma channel created by the laser beam.

Laser-induced plasma channel

A laser-Induced plasma channel (LIPC) is formed by the following process:

  • A laser emits a laser beam into the air.
  • The laser beam rapidly heats and ionizes surrounding gases to form plasma.
  • The plasma forms an electrically conductive plasma channel.

Because a laser-induced plasma channel relies on ionization, gas must exist between the electrolaser weapon and its target.If a laser-beam is intense enough ,it's electromagnetic field is strong enough to rip electrons off of air molecules creating plasma.[1] Similar to lightning, the rapid heating also creates a sonic boom.[citation needed]

Uses

Methods of use:

  • To kill or incapacitate a human target through electric shock.
  • To seriously damage, disable, or destroy any electric or electronic devices in the target.
  • As electrolasers and natural lightning both use plasma channels to conduct electric current, an electrolaser can set up a light-induced plasma channel for uses such as:
    • To study lightning
    • During a thunderstorm, to make lightning discharge at a safe time and place, as with a lightning conductor.[2]
    • Directing atmospheric lightning to a terrestrial collection station for the purpose of electrical power generation.
    • As a weapon, to make a thunderhead deliver a precise lightning strike onto a target from an aircraft; in this case, the aircraft and laser can be compared to a triggered spark gap, in that the relatively minor amount of initial input from the laser allows a large amount of energy to flow between the cloud and the ground.

Because of the plasma channel, an electrolaser may cause an accident if there is a thunderstorm (or other electricity sources such as overhead powerlines) about.[citation needed]

The only defences against electron particle beam weapons are magnetic fields, electrical insulators, capacitors, electrostatic fields, and Faraday cages.[citation needed]

See electroshock gun for more information (principles of operation, controversies, etc.).

An electrolaser is not presently practical for wireless energy transfer due to danger and low efficiency.[citation needed]

Examples of electrolasers

Applied Energetics / Ionatron

Publicly traded company Applied Energetics (formerly Ionatron) develops directed-energy weapons for the United States Military. The company has produced a device called the Joint IED Neutralizer (JIN) which was deemed unfit for field use in 2006.[3] The JIN is intended for safely detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Future designs include weapons mounted on land, air and sea vehicles and as a hand-held infantry version.

Applied Energetics said that the weapons will be able to be used as a non-lethal alternative to current weaponry, but will be able to deliver a high enough voltage jolt to kill.

Applied Energetics / Ionatron say that they are working on an electrolaser system, called LGE (Laser Guided Energy).[4] They are also studying a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) as a way to stop people from going through a corridor or passageway.[5]

Phoenix

There was an unconfirmed report that in 1985 the U.S. Navy tested an electrolaser.[citation needed] Its targets were missiles and aircraft. This device was known as the Phoenix project within the Strategic Defense Initiative research program. It was first proved by experiment at long range in 1985, but this report may have referred to an early test of MIRACL, which is or was a high-powered chemical laser.[citation needed]

HSV Technologies

HSV Technologies, formerly of San Diego, California, USA, are designing a non-lethal device which was profiled in the 2002 TIME magazine article “Beyond the Rubber Bullet”. It is an electrolaser using ultraviolet laser beams of 193 nm, and promises to immobilize living targets at a distance without contact. There is plan for an engine-disabling variation for use against the electronic ignitions of cars using a 248 nm laser.[6]

Picatinny Arsenal

Researchers from Picatinny Arsenal have demonstrated that an electric discharge can go through a laser beam. The laser beam is self-focusing due to the high laser intensity of 50 billion Watts, which changes the speed of light in air.[7]

Similar devices

There have been experiments in using a laser beam as path to discharge natural electric charges in the air, causing "laser-triggered lightning".[2][8][9][10][11][12]

See also

References

  1. ^ Template:Http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18630622
  2. ^ a b B. Forestier, A. Houard, I. Revel, M. Durand, Y. B. André, B. Prade, A. Jarnac, J. Carbonnel, M. Le Nevé, J. C. de Miscault, B. Esmiller, D. Chapuis, and A. Mysyrowicz (2012). "Triggering, guiding and deviation of long air spark discharges with femtosecond laser filament". AIP Advances. 2 (1). Bibcode:2012AIPA....2a2151F. doi:10.1063/1.3690961. {{cite journal}}: External link in |title= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Schachtman, Noah (2006-05-21). "Real-Life Ray Gun: Say When?". Archived from the original on 3 Oct 2011. Retrieved 2007-11-10.
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ [2]
  6. ^ HSV Technologies official website
  7. ^ Kaneshiro, Jason. "Picatinny engineers set phasers to 'fry'" Picatinny Arsenal, 21 June 2012. Retrieved: 13 July 2012.
  8. ^ "UNM researchers use lasers to guide lightning" from University of New Mexico
  9. ^ Laser-triggered lightning discharge from the New Journal of Physics
  10. ^ Laboratory tests of laser-induced lightning discharge from Optics InfoBase
  11. ^ "The electric field changes and UHF radiations caused by the lightning in Japan" from Kawasaki Lab
  12. ^ "A laser-induced lightning concept experiment" from Harvard University
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