News Physics

Superfast laser pulses could pave way for beam weapons

Short bursts turn columns of air into energy conduits

LASER DEFENSE The U.S. Navy is reportedly deploying a laser weapon system on one of its ships. New work on carving out air-based conduits for high-energy laser beams could improve this technology.

Copyright U.S. Navy

By Andrew Grant

- More than 2 years ago

Laser pulses lasting tiny fractions of a second have created superhighways in the air that are potentially capable of transporting megawatts of laser power.