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67-Kilowatt Laser Unveiled

s31523 writes "Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California has announced they have working in the lab a Solid State Heat Capacity Laser that averages 67 kW. It is being developed for the military. The chief scientist Dr. Yamamoto is quoted: 'I know of no other solid state laser that has achieved 67 kW of average output power.' Although many lasers have peaked at higher capacities, getting the average sustained power to remain high is the tricky part. The article says that hitting the 100-kW level, at which point it would become interesting as a battlefield weapon, could be less than a year away."

33 of 395 comments (clear)

  1. Obligatory by Sneakernets · · Score: 4, Funny

    Cue the frickin' lasers jokes in 3...2...1...

    --
    "No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson
    1. Re:Obligatory by servoled · · Score: 4, Funny

      Two frickin' lasers walked into a bar... the third one ducked.

      --
      "I have a porkchop, you have a porkchop. I have a veal, you have a veal".
    2. Re:Obligatory by Stormwatch · · Score: 3, Funny

      That Yamamoto guy is trying to take credit for others' work. The "laser" is actually Alan Parsons' project!

    3. Re:Obligatory by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

      A priest, a rabbi, and a horse walk into a bar. The bartender says "What is this, a joke?"

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
  2. Eleven by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    But my laser goes all the way up to 11 ...

  3. don't tag this 'SHARKS' by Vicsun · · Score: 2, Funny

    tag it ohgodsomeonewilltagthissharks instead and show some originality

  4. Not Car Wars level yet by ArmorFiend · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yawn...somebody wake me when they can make it 500 pounds, 2 spaces, $8000, and it can cut through an engine block in 1/10th of a second.

    -Uncle Albert

  5. official name... by Dahamma · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...will be the "Yamamoto Cannon".

    (damn, why couldn't he have been Dr. Yamato)

  6. Rumsfeld Already Wants One by SRA8 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let me guess -- the Pentagon now has everything it needs to proceed with the Death Star?

    1. Re:Rumsfeld Already Wants One by aristotle-dude · · Score: 4, Funny

      Everything is proceeding just as I've foreseen. - The Emperor

      --
      Jesus was a compassionate social conservative who called individuals to sin no more.
    2. Re:Rumsfeld Already Wants One by jemecki · · Score: 2, Funny

      FYI, Rumsfeld is out. Robert Gates is the secretary of defense.

  7. Not good enough by volpe · · Score: 4, Funny

    I want five megawatts by mid-May.

    1. Re:Not good enough by Todamont · · Score: 1, Funny

      It needs to be an excimer, excited in the frozen state and coupled to the ground state, duh. Also, we're gonna need a big spinning mirror. Also a lot of popcorn.

      --
      Kharma is like a boomerang. Mine is broken.
    2. Re:Not good enough by PopeZaphod · · Score: 2, Funny

      There are a lot of decaffeinated brands out there that are just as tasty as the real thing.

      --
      ->
    3. Re:Not good enough by volpe · · Score: 3, Funny

      I want five megawatts. By mid-may.

  8. Still too big by Alwin+Henseler · · Score: 2, Funny

    Okay, I'll bite...

    Near the end of the article: 'mobile laser concept'.
    That thing needs a whaleshark to mount it on!

    --
    Still prefer the double-barreled shotgun, or the Bio-Force Gun (BFG) myself...

  9. Re:So will this give me bionic eyesight by Kjella · · Score: 3, Funny

    You know, I think you should try it. I hear you can get a scientific award for experiments like that, though I hear it's named after someone who is controversial in US schools.

    --
    Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  10. 67kW? by Cynical_Dude · · Score: 2, Funny

    67 kW? Thats nice. Another 933 kW and we can mount it on my Cobra Mark III.

  11. Re:May cause som collateral damage by Wicko · · Score: 4, Funny

    That would be one hell of a light show.

  12. Tough decision... by crankyspice · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do I make a Real Genius joke, or a StarCraft joke?

    --
    geek. lawyer.
  13. MAH LAZER by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    IMMA CHARGIN IT

    1. Re:MAH LAZER by Neitokun · · Score: 2, Funny

      Fool. You forgot to shoop da woop first.

  14. So close by Stephen+Tennant · · Score: 4, Funny

    Soon, America will wield the power to project an annoying red dot into any room in North Korea or Iran, disturbing and agitating ANY and ALL cats, and, if the resident is so foolish as to investigate... his very eyes may be irritated, and possibly damaged, after prolonged exposure!

    --
    I spend most of my time in bed, darling.
  15. WARNING by istartedi · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do not stare into laser with remaining co-worker.

    --
    For all intensive purposes, "whom" is no longer a word. That begs the question, "who cares"?
  16. Worse by LordEd · · Score: 4, Funny

    The RIAA is terrified that it will be used to burn DVDs at a range of 500 meters. Drive-by piracy is here: hide your children, lock your doors, hire your lawyers!

    1. Re:Worse by failedlogic · · Score: 2, Funny

      Your fine will depend on the car you drive. If you have a 4-door you're only charged $1000 per song. If its a Ferrari, its $2,000 a song.

      Fast CD-R Drives Make For Twice the Piracy: http://slashdot.org/articles/02/12/15/1759227.shtm l?tid=141

  17. Here, kitty, kitty.... by surfcow · · Score: 2, Funny

    Look at the dot! Chase the dot! Chase the ...

    Uh-oh.

  18. Prism Tanks anyone? by Afecks · · Score: 2, Funny

    First thing that popped into my head was the sound of a Prism Tank blast followed by AAAHHHHH!

  19. Re:two things by Linker3000 · · Score: 4, Funny

    1) You could deliver your PowerPoint presentation in Paris from your office in San Francisco via videophone and STILL point out the interesting bits to the audience.

    2) Later that night you could pick out a cinema in Paris and really piss off the audience by squiggling on the screen.

    --
    AT&ROFLMAO
  20. Re:two things by king-manic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes it all varies with the color of the light.

    Alright, the good guys gets the red ones and the bad guys can use the green ones. That way we know when we got killed by friendly or unfriendly fire.

    --
    "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy."
  21. Re:May cause som collateral damage by Khashishi · · Score: 3, Funny

    When the head is vaporized by a 67 kW laser, it's a safe assumption that there will be some retinal damage. I think cataracts are the least of your worries.

  22. Re:fp? by Sanat · · Score: 2, Funny

    my opinion that Slashdot wasn't always this mundane.

    Well... yes it has always been... Just quit coming home drunk!

    --
    And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make
  23. American Citizens Still Lack Health Care. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    But Americans can pop Jiffy-Pop popcorn from outerspace!!1! kewl!

    The United States: We p0wn The Planet.