Electrolaser
Encyclopedia
An electrolaser is a type of electroshock weapon which is also a directed-energy weapon
. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC). A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel
and delivered to the target, thus functioning overall as a large-scale, high energy, long-distance version of the Taser
electroshock gun
.
Alternating current
is sent through a series of step-up transformer
s, increasing the voltage
and decreasing the current
. The final voltage may be between 108 and 109 volts. This current is fed into the plasma channel created by the laser beam.
(LIPC) is formed by the following process:
Because a laser-induced plasma channel relies on ionization, there must be air or some other gas between the electrolaser weapon and the target. Similar to naturally-formed lightning, the extremely rapid heating of the gas that creates the plasma channel also creates a sonic boom that is heard as a loud "CRACK".
Because of the plasma channel
, an electrolaser may cause an accident if there is a thunderstorm
(or other electricity sources such as overhead powerlines) about.
The only defences against electron particle beam weapons are magnetic fields, electrical insulator
s, capacitor
s, electrostatic fields, and Faraday cage
s.
See electroshock gun
for more information (principles of operation, controversies, etc).
An electrolaser is not presently practical for wireless energy transfer
due to danger and low efficiency.
Military
. The company has produced a device called the Joint IED Neutralizer (JIN) which was deemed unfit for field use in 2006 but may presently be undergoing field testing in Iraq
. The JIN is intended for safely detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Future designs include weapons mounted on land, air and sea vehicles and as a hand-held infantry version.
Applied Energetics said that the weapons will be able to be used as a non-lethal alternative to current weaponry, but will be able to deliver a high enough voltage jolt to kill.
Applied Energetics / Ionatron say that they are working on an electrolaser system, called LGE (Laser Guided Energy). They are also studying a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) as a way to stop people from going through a corridor or passageway.
research program. It was first proved by experiment at long range in 1985, but this report may have referred to an early test of MIRACL
, which is or was a high-powered chemical laser
.
, USA, are designing a non-lethal device which was profiled in the 2002 TIME
magazine article “Beyond the Rubber Bullet”. It is an electrolaser using ultraviolet
laser
beams of 193 nm , and promises to immobilize living targets at a distance without contact. There is plan for an engine-disabling variation for use against the electronic ignitions of cars using a 248 nm laser.
".
Directed-energy weapon
A directed-energy weapon emits energy in an aimed direction without the means of a projectile. It transfers energy to a target for a desired effect. Intended effects may be non-lethal or lethal...
. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC). A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel
Plasma channel
A plasma channel is a conductive channel of plasma. A plasma channel can be formed in these ways:-*With a high-powered laser that operates at a certain frequency that will provide enough energy for an atmospheric gas to break into its ions, or form a plasma, such as in a Laser-Induced Plasma...
and delivered to the target, thus functioning overall as a large-scale, high energy, long-distance version of the Taser
Taser
A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to disrupt voluntary control of muscles. Its manufacturer, Taser International, calls the effects "neuromuscular incapacitation" and the devices' mechanism "Electro-Muscular Disruption technology"...
electroshock gun
Electroshock gun
An electroshock weapon is an incapacitant weapon used for incapacitating a person by administering electric shock aimed at disrupting superficial muscle functions. One type is a conductive energy device , an electroshock gun popularly known by the brand name "Taser", which fires projectiles that...
.
Alternating current
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
is sent through a series of step-up transformer
Transformer
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another through inductively coupled conductors—the transformer's coils. A varying current in the first or primary winding creates a varying magnetic flux in the transformer's core and thus a varying magnetic field...
s, increasing the voltage
Voltage
Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
and decreasing the current
Electric current
Electric current is a flow of electric charge through a medium.This charge is typically carried by moving electrons in a conductor such as wire...
. The final voltage may be between 108 and 109 volts. This current is fed into the plasma channel created by the laser beam.
Laser-induced plasma channel
A laser-Induced plasma channelPlasma channel
A plasma channel is a conductive channel of plasma. A plasma channel can be formed in these ways:-*With a high-powered laser that operates at a certain frequency that will provide enough energy for an atmospheric gas to break into its ions, or form a plasma, such as in a Laser-Induced Plasma...
(LIPC) is formed by the following process:
- A laserLaserA laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
(possibly a laser diodeLaser diodeThe laser diode is a laser where the active medium is a semiconductor similar to that found in a light-emitting diode. The most common type of laser diode is formed from a p-n junction and powered by injected electric current...
) emits a laser beam into the air. - The laser beam causes extremely rapid heating and ionization of atmospheric gases to form a plasmaPlasma (physics)In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
. - The plasma forms an electrically conductive plasma channelPlasma channelA plasma channel is a conductive channel of plasma. A plasma channel can be formed in these ways:-*With a high-powered laser that operates at a certain frequency that will provide enough energy for an atmospheric gas to break into its ions, or form a plasma, such as in a Laser-Induced Plasma...
.
Because a laser-induced plasma channel relies on ionization, there must be air or some other gas between the electrolaser weapon and the target. Similar to naturally-formed lightning, the extremely rapid heating of the gas that creates the plasma channel also creates a sonic boom that is heard as a loud "CRACK".
Uses
Methods of use:- To kill or incapacitate a human target through electric shockElectric shockElectric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
. - To seriously damage, disable, or destroy any electric or electronicElectronicsElectronics is the branch of science, engineering and technology that deals with electrical circuits involving active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies...
devices in the target. - As electrolasers and natural lightningLightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
both use plasma channelPlasma channelA plasma channel is a conductive channel of plasma. A plasma channel can be formed in these ways:-*With a high-powered laser that operates at a certain frequency that will provide enough energy for an atmospheric gas to break into its ions, or form a plasma, such as in a Laser-Induced Plasma...
s to conduct electric current, an electrolaser can set up a light-induced plasma channel for uses such as:- To study lightningLightningLightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
- During a thunderstormThunderstormA thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
, to make lightning discharge at a safe time and place, as with a lightning conductor. - As a weapon, to make a thunderhead deliver a precise lightning strike onto a target from an aircraft; in this case, the aircraft and laser can be compared to a triggered spark gap, in that the relatively minor amount of initial input from the laser allows a large amount of energy to flow between the cloud and the ground.
- To study lightning
Because of the plasma channel
Plasma channel
A plasma channel is a conductive channel of plasma. A plasma channel can be formed in these ways:-*With a high-powered laser that operates at a certain frequency that will provide enough energy for an atmospheric gas to break into its ions, or form a plasma, such as in a Laser-Induced Plasma...
, an electrolaser may cause an accident if there is a thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
(or other electricity sources such as overhead powerlines) about.
The only defences against electron particle beam weapons are magnetic fields, electrical insulator
Electrical insulation
thumb|250px|[[Coaxial Cable]] with dielectric insulator supporting a central coreThis article refers to electrical insulation. For insulation of heat, see Thermal insulation...
s, capacitor
Capacitor
A capacitor is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to store energy in an electric field. The forms of practical capacitors vary widely, but all contain at least two electrical conductors separated by a dielectric ; for example, one common construction consists of metal foils separated...
s, electrostatic fields, and Faraday cage
Faraday cage
A Faraday cage or Faraday shield is an enclosure formed by conducting material or by a mesh of such material. Such an enclosure blocks out external static and non-static electric fields...
s.
See electroshock gun
Electroshock gun
An electroshock weapon is an incapacitant weapon used for incapacitating a person by administering electric shock aimed at disrupting superficial muscle functions. One type is a conductive energy device , an electroshock gun popularly known by the brand name "Taser", which fires projectiles that...
for more information (principles of operation, controversies, etc).
An electrolaser is not presently practical for wireless energy transfer
Wireless energy transfer
Wireless energy transfer or wireless power is the transmission of electrical energy from a power source to an electrical load without artificial interconnecting conductors. Wireless transmission is useful in cases where interconnecting wires are inconvenient, hazardous, or impossible...
due to danger and low efficiency.
Applied Energetics / Ionatron
Publicly traded company Applied Energetics (formerly Ionatron) develops directed-energy weapons for the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
. The company has produced a device called the Joint IED Neutralizer (JIN) which was deemed unfit for field use in 2006 but may presently be undergoing field testing in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The JIN is intended for safely detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Future designs include weapons mounted on land, air and sea vehicles and as a hand-held infantry version.
Applied Energetics said that the weapons will be able to be used as a non-lethal alternative to current weaponry, but will be able to deliver a high enough voltage jolt to kill.
Applied Energetics / Ionatron say that they are working on an electrolaser system, called LGE (Laser Guided Energy). They are also studying a laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) as a way to stop people from going through a corridor or passageway.
Phoenix
There was an unconfirmed report that in 1985 the U.S. Navy tested an electrolaser. Its targets were missiles and aircraft. This device was known as the Phoenix project within the Strategic Defense InitiativeStrategic Defense Initiative
The Strategic Defense Initiative was proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use ground and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the prior strategic...
research program. It was first proved by experiment at long range in 1985, but this report may have referred to an early test of MIRACL
MIRACL
MIRACL, or Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser, is a successful directed energy weapon developed by the US Navy. It is a deuterium fluoride laser, a type of chemical laser....
, which is or was a high-powered chemical laser
Chemical laser
A chemical laser is a laser that obtains its energy from a chemical reaction. Chemical lasers can achieve continuous wave output with power reaching to megawatt levels...
.
HSV Technologies
HSV Technologies, formerly of San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, USA, are designing a non-lethal device which was profiled in the 2002 TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine article “Beyond the Rubber Bullet”. It is an electrolaser using ultraviolet
Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...
laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
beams of 193 nm , and promises to immobilize living targets at a distance without contact. There is plan for an engine-disabling variation for use against the electronic ignitions of cars using a 248 nm laser.
Similar devices
There have been experiments in using a laser beam as path to discharge natural electric charges in the air, causing "laser-triggered lightningLightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
".