[LINK] o/t Laser Weapon

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Key Piece Of Laser Weapon Built

By Jesse Emspak, Jan 20, 2011.
<http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/103271/20110120/key-piece-of-laser-
weapon-built.htm>

Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratories have developed an electron 
injector that is the key to developing a true laser weapon system. 

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Scientists at Los Alamos National Lab have built a key component to 
battlefield lasers that could arm U.S. navy ships by the end of the 
decade.

As part of the Office of Naval Research, "Free Electron Laser" (FEL) 
program, the scientists demonstrated a device called an injector that 
produces the electrons needed to generate megawatt-class laser beams.

In a free electron laser, electrons are accelerated to high speeds 
through an array of magnets, called an undulator. The magnets "wiggle" 
the electrons so fast that they produce laser light pulses. 

Two big problems in building such lasers have been getting the electrons 
into the system, and maintaining the power levels to produce lasers with 
power levels necessary to destroy targets.

One advantage of FELs is that they are tunable - the power and frequency 
can both be adjusted. This allows for changing the laser to fit different 
situations.

Quentin Saulter, FEL program manager, said that the research is necessary 
for the Department of the Navy to one day deploy the megawatt-class FEL 
weapon system. 

"The FEL is expected to provide future U.S. Naval forces with a near-
instantaneous laser ship defense in any maritime environment throughout 
the world," he said. 

The FEL project began as a basic science and technology program in the 
1980s and matured into a working 14-kilowatt prototype. ONR hopes to test 
the FEL in a maritime environment as early as 2018.

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Cheers,
Stephen