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Chinese Scientists Have Developed the World's First Destructive Laser Rifle (popsci.com)
PopularScience: Chinese scientists have developed the world's first destructive, man-portable laser weapon. However, there is more to the story of this cool looking, but "less than lethal" directed energy device. The laser rifle is the ZKZM-500, developed by Xian Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics in Xian, Shaanxi. It's manufactured by the Institute's subsidiary, ZKZM Laser. Weighing at 6 pounds (about the weight of a typical assault rifle), the ZKZM-500 has a range of 2,600 feet. The ZKZM-500 uses a lithium battery with enough power for 1000 two second shots (keep in mind, those 1000 shots may not be at full power). According to Institute designers, its laser is powerful enough to instantly scar human skin and tissue. It can also ignite clothing, knock a small drone out of the sky, or even ignite a fuel tank. That would place its power output around 100-500 watts (most surgical lasers top out at 100 watts).
Definitely bullshit. No need to be an optic/photonics nerd to confirm. To give you an idea combat lasers are used today to burn the optics of incoming missiles. And in an experimental setting to boot. Beyond this they are hugely impractical. You also need a huge amount of energy which means a strong electrical generator and a vehicle. There are experiments now to make them work on warships as self defense mechanisms.
So basically news that pretend anyone has made the electrical output of a several thousand of tonnes warship in a man portable outfit are good for teenage rumor sites or clumsy state propaganda agencies like presstv. i wonder how such crud ends up on slashdot.
There are lasers that cut trough steel at impressive speed though. Industrial infrared lasers in big factories. Sometimes powerful waterjets are used to the same effect. But if someone tells you a water pistol can cut people in two, be sceptical.
Besides, i am also a photonics nerd. Not in such high powered application though.
Dunno why they are likening it to Star Wars, they were clearly using some kind of plasma weapons in that movie. Lasers produce a beam that travels at the speed of light, but the Star Wars they shoot short burst of relatively slow moving plasma.
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SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
Which, let me see, the Chinese, the US and some other perverted authoritarian regimes care nothing about?
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.