Jane’s has a good overview of the ray gun world’s state of play. The bits about the problems facing the beam-firing 747, the Airborne Laser, and the blaster-equipped cargo plane, the Advanced Tactical Laser, are particularly juicy.
Full-on flight tests of the Airborne Laser, or ABL, have been pushed back to 2008. But “some aspects of the system cannot be demonstrated on the ground,” Jane’s notes. “Laser performance in real high-altitude conditions and the performance of the entire system at high altitudes. As in a rocket, the chemical systems in the COIL [chemical oxygen iodine laser, the ABL’s weapon] are affected by atmospheric pressure at the exhaust outlet, which creates back pressure in the flow path.”
Another issue is logistics: hydrogen peroxide is corrosive and a powerful solvent of organic materials (including people) and potassium hydroxide is a toxic material used as a drain cleaner and (by Norwegians) to preserve codfish. Neither is used by any other military system, so the chemicals require new storage and transport facilities and special training and handling procedures…
The USAF’s other airborne COIL project is the ATL [Advanced Tactical Laser], which has a budget of $200 million [and] is due for high-power flight tests in mid-2007, aboard an C-130H platform.
ATL has a much lower power goal than the ABL — in the tens of kilowatts rather than megawatts — and is intended to disable rather than kill its targets, demonstrating the ability of lasers to achieve specific, ultra-precise effects. The design reference missions for ATL are to stop a moving vehicle and disable a communications node from 10,000 ft.
Stopping a vehicle does not necessarily mean destroying it or killing its occupants. If the laser can penetrate the engine cover, for example, the temperature within the engine compartment is likely to get higher than is mechanically optimal. The laser could penetrate the fuel tank and start a fire. In the case of a communications target, cables and antennas could be the weak spots.
Delivery of hardware for the ATL… started during 2005 and the C-130 platform was delivered to Boeing in January this year… Unlike the ABL, the ATL does not vent harmful gases into the atmosphere: the exhaust is ducted into a container of activated carbon, which absorbs and neutralises it.
While ATL presents less risk than ABL, it is more likely to be overtaken by other developments: primarily, the development of more powerful solid-state lasers. The attractions of a solid-state laser — which uses a solid transmissive material as the lasing medium — are clear, notes AFRL’s Hamil: the ‘magazine’ can be as deep as the aircraft’s fuel tanks (which can be replenished in flight) and there are no exotic fuels to handle and no chemical exhaust. The disadvantage is that solid-state lasers today do not have the power to do anything other than illuminate. At high powers, ‘thermal lensing’ — the change in optical qualities with heat — becomes what Hamil calls “horrific”, making it difficult to produce a high-quality beam.
(Big ups: Eric)
The faster than expected development of solid state lasers is probably a big reason why the ABL has been nerfed to a technology demonstrator. The sensors, optics, and battle management software are all reusable, but the laser will probably be completely replaced by a solid state model within 10 years.
Megawatt Solid state lasers are well over 10 years away. The advantages of a IR solid state laser may be attractive, but aren’t currently feasible compared to chemical lasers at this point…there are serious efficiency issues as well as cooling issues with solid state devices currently in kW sized tactical solid state lasers–it just ain’t gonna happen…unless someone creates a significant breakthrough in cooling or efficiency…
When I was on the university, I played the Rappelz game under my classmates introduced. At first, I heard Rappelz from my classmate; I did not feel the game is fun. Until one day, I went on the line, because I had nothing to do, so I think I can look at the Rappelz game. When I looked the screen, I was attracted. Then I applied an account and I spent a little to buy rupees. And I began my Rappelz trip.
Looking back at the past, in those days, we played together; we have no much rappelz money, we have no need equipment and no senior friends too us, but I am still playing very happy. Rappelz left everywhere in our laughter. There is only one reason is that I have her around, I would meet, everything becomes unimportant. One thing I feel very sorry, that is when I married her, mo gorgeous fireworks, mo friends of blessing. Now I have heart, I feel wronged her, I am sorry to her.
Later, in January of this year, I have entered into this long hoped for world. Following in their previous game, I have some experience, at first I bought some RF cp to arm my number, so I grew up gradually. Later, I joined the empire of darkness, I recognize some friends. Later matured, I separated from the darkness; to join a trade union has just established a new, expanding trade union began a journey, and I recognized a lot of friends.
Virtual net works, virtual role of the game, I did not as him what people. It is only a game; happy is the purpose of the game. I chat with him happy. I have an on line he will not be alone to upgrade and earn GuildWars money, but rather for the first time chat with me, in this way we often sit together.
Engadget reports (via the consumer and retail research company NPD Group) that Apple
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