U.S. Navy fries ship with a laser

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by kraznyi_oktjabr

Don't expect replacement of missiles etc with lasers very soon. Laser is (at the moment) good weather weapon. Sandstorm, snow or just rain have nasty effects on usefullness.

No worries, we also have new weather control satellites.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Well the Wright Flyer was not very impressive, but in 15 years cities were being bombed from the air.

Correct, and im not downplaying the Navy Laser by any means.

and the wright flyer was more or less a proof of concept machine as well.

What i am saying - when i first saw the headline for this a few days ago it was similar to the thread title

"US Navy Laser destroys target ship"

what it should have read:

"US Navy laser starts small fire aboard target skiff in early test"

of course it didnt say that.

so when i clicked for video, needless to say i was disappointed when I saw instead of THIS. (not that i really expected the latter)

its as much of a big deal as it isnt - if that makes sense.

now... when we can upgrade the Arleigh Burkes with a laser that can split an aircraft carrier in half within 90 seconds - that would be awesome.

[Growler]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

possably one of the worst things someone could do. The laser would vaporise the water in to steam and then send it back twoards the target.

How do you figure? Temperature and pressure would seem to indicate that as the water temperature rose, so too would the local pressure. In an open environment, that higher pressure will move towards areas of lower pressure to equalize in nature. In this case, the area of lower pressure would be up. Steam - as does heat - is going to go up, not laterally - as the molecules evaporate (and thereby expand), they're going to move towards lower pressure - up. If the generation of mist is constant (as it would need to be if the ship is moving), you'd be replacing what was evaporating continually.

Understand, I'm not talking about a "layer" of mist a few inches think; think instead of a series of fire-fighting mist/fog nozzles siphoning seawater through pumps and continually projecting this cloud out for several feet, or more.

Further, the transmission of heat from the laser to the water mist will serve to scatter the laser's focus and dissipate the amount of delivered heat. I don't have to neutralize the weapon - I only have to diminish its capability to inflict irreparable/fatal damage/harm.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Growler

How do you figure? Temperature and pressure would seem to indicate that as the water temperature rose, so too would the local pressure. In an open environment, that higher pressure will move towards areas of lower pressure to equalize in nature. In this case, the area of lower pressure would be up. Steam - as does heat - is going to go up, not laterally - as the molecules evaporate (and thereby expand), they're going to move towards lower pressure - up. If the generation of mist is constant (as it would need to be if the ship is moving), you'd be replacing what was evaporating continually.

Understand, I'm not talking about a "layer" of mist a few inches think; think instead of a series of fire-fighting mist/fog nozzles siphoning seawater through pumps and continually projecting this cloud out for several feet, or more.

Further, the transmission of heat from the laser to the water mist will serve to scatter the laser's focus and dissipate the amount of delivered heat. I don't have to neutralize the weapon - I only have to diminish its capability to inflict irreparable/fatal damage/harm.

When a laser excites the water molecules they are converted in to kinetic energy, also photos do carry momentum.

[Marcantilan]

A laser system (DEC Laser Dazzler) was used in South Atlantic War 1982 to try to blind Argentine pilots.

http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/rn/frigates/t22/

http://books.google.com.ar/books?id=...0laser&f=false

US Navy is trying that kind of use for lasers, or is "Star Wars style or burst"?

Regards!

[Oberon]

[Growler]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

When a laser excites the water molecules they are converted in to kinetic energy, also photos do carry momentum.

Which, as they penetrate the successive layers of mist/vapor, are further subject to forces that will scatter/dissipate the laser's energy.

[Schroeder]

I actually fail to see what this test was supposed to proof.
Tanks have been hitting moving targets with cannons while moving themselves for decades. I believe they even use lasers to stay on target with their guns. So why should a laser on a ship not be able to stay on target?

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

No worries, we also have new weather control satellites.

Yes, yes I know. Just tell me whe Houston, TX humidity control knob is...

[MaddogK]

For some odd reason I'm craving popcorn...

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Growler

Which, as they penetrate the successive layers of mist/vapor, are further subject to forces that will scatter/dissipate the laser's energy.

At which point it becomes a question of saturation. If a target's Watercaster "Laser Defense System" (LDS) is in operation a target's own anti-missile lasers can't be used and its own radar system (for traditional missile defenses) will be degraded at the same time making a huge radar target of its self (big spray of H2O = Not stealthy). Plus I doubt it will be able to fire its own SAMs while shooting a huge spray of water around it.

If its LDS goes up its time for the attacker to fire a missile or two, the target then either "Drops its shields" to shoot back and eats the laser or takes its vampires like a man.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

also photos do carry momentum.

Very true. I've seen a few pictures that have really moved me

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Very true. I've seen a few pictures that have really moved me

I would have figured it would be Dowly who would have brought up Porn in a discussion about directed energy weapons...

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

I would have figured it would be Dowly who would have brought up Porn in a discussion about directed energy weapons...

What? Wait.....no, that wasn't what I meant.......

I would never compare directed-energy weapons to porn, because they're about a hundredtimes more awesome I would give up all sexually-related activities for the rest of my life for just one chance to fire a 1500Mw particle cannon at a suitable target. Not such a stretch, considering that the radiation from the beam would likely likely render me sterile anyways and I'd die of radiation-poisoning in a few hours.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Not such a stretch, considering that the radiation from the beam would likely likely render me sterile anyways and I'd die of radiation-poisoning in a few hours.

I see someone has been reading ProjectRho...