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Lasers Approach Their Ultimate Intensity Limit

Posted by samzenpus on from the biggest-pointer dept.

Flash Modin writes "Death Star style superlasers? Don't bet on it. High-power lasers currently in development appear to be nearing the theoretical laser intensity limit, according to new research set to be published in the journal Physical Review Letters. Ultra-high-energy laser fields can actually convert their light into matter as shown in the late '90s at the Stanford Linear Accelerator (SLAC). This process creates an 'avalanche-like electromagnetic cascade' (also known as sparking the vacuum) capable of destroying a laser field. Physicists thought it might be a problem for lasers eventually, but this work indicates the technology is much closer to its limit than researchers believed. A preprint is available here."

3 of 384 comments (clear)

  1. Seems like there's a simple solution. by PotatoFarmer · · Score: 5, Funny

    Have they considered relabeling their laser intensity dials so they go up to 11?

  2. Death Star style superlasers? Don't bet on it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Death Star style superlasers? Don't bet on it."

    Uh, you mean a bunch of laser beams that come out straight, stop for a fraction of a second, turn a few degrees and then join up and all go off in the same direction?

    I wasn't exactly holding my breath for that, anyway!!

  3. Re:No death star :( by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I find your lack of faith disturbing.