• Question: what would the most powerful laser be able to do?

    Asked by itz_abz to Chris on 15 Jun 2015. This question was also asked by Nash.
    • Photo: Chris Armstrong

      Chris Armstrong answered on 15 Jun 2015:

      Depends on how you mean.

      In my field we are pushing towards higher and higher intensities to open up new methods of energy coupling. Specifically the one just out of reach at the moment is the QED-Plasma regime. The exact result of reaching this regime is currently unknown, but the prediction is that quantum effects and pair production will become significant factors in the plasma.

      Outside of my field, lasers are blowing up trucks from 2 miles away. My bet is that in the future someone will find a way to make lasers a viable weapon.

Comments