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World's First X-Ray Laser Goes Live
smolloy writes "The world's first X-ray laser (LCLS) has seen first light.
A Free Electron Laser (FEL) is based on the light that is emitted by accelerated electrons when they are forced to move in a curved path. The beam then interacts with this emitted light in order to excite coherent emission (much like in a regular laser); thus producing a very short, extremely bright, bunch of coherent X-ray photons. The engineering expertise that went into this machine is phenomenal — 'This is the most difficult light source that has ever been turned on,' said LCLS Construction Project Director John Galayda. 'It's on the boundary between the impossible and possible, and within two hours of start-up these guys had it right on.' — and the benefits to the applied sciences from research using this light can be expected to be enormous: 'For some disciplines, this tool will be as important to the future as the microscope has been to the past,' said SLAC Director Persis Drell."
Can it give me super powers if it accidentally hits me?!
Strangest acronym evar.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
So when will it be small enough to fit on a shark's head?
Can I suggest that they put this thing in the belly of an airforce drone and attempt to cook a tub of popcorn on the ground? Perhaps in my professor's house?
But once they ship it off to Taiwan for mass production that two miles will become two centimeters. And we'll all have our own X-Ray laser pointer.
And we'll all have our own X-Ray laser pointer.
Awesome! You won't be able to see what you are pointing at, but it can still burn out your eyes.
AccountKiller
And because it's ridiculously impractical?
The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
Yes, for values of "glow" equal to "burst into flames." If sufficiently concentrated, it really doesn't take much energy to ignite something assuming it has a relatively low flash temperature (like wood, paper, even plastic or paint).
There's no place I could be, since I've found Serenity...
I was request number 4, you insensitive clod!
I herd you like light so we put a beam in your beam...
It will be better to purchase from an owner who is a good farmer and a good builder.
Right turn, Claude.
Know your pads. One time pad: good for cryptography. Two timing pad: where to take your mistress.