MadSci Network: Physics |
I saw a tv show about future weapons hinting that battlefield lasers may one day be able to vaporize enemy troops. Roughly what amount of energy would be required to reduce a person to ashes in minutes (the highest unclassified laser wattage is around 100 kilowatts)? If a lightning bolt can't do it how could a laser? How powerful would a given laser have to be to produce such an effect? I can't see this ever happening and I'm curious as to why it would be presented in a supposedly factual program.
Re: Could any known laser vaporize a human being?
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