World’s Most Powerful Laser has the Energy of a Hydrogen Bomb

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.consumerenergyreport.com/2009/03/30/worlds-most-powerful-laser-has-the-energy-of-a-hydrogen-bomb/


At a cost of $3.5 billion and more than a decade of work, the 192 laser beams are billed as the most powerful in the world.
Scientists working at the National Ignition Facility of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, have built the most powerful laser in the world, capable of simulating the energy force of a hydrogen bomb and the sun itself.

“The system already has produced 25 times more energy than any other laser system,” said NIF Director Ed Moses.

The Energy Department is expected to announce Tuesday that it has officially certified the National Ignition Facility, which would clear the way for a series of experiments which scientists hope will eventually will mimic the heat and pressure found at the center of the sun.

The successful completion of the laser is the culmination of more than a decade of work at a cost of $3.5 billion.

“NIF is well on its way to achieving breakthroughs in science never imagined. Through our readiness testing we will see glimpses of what that future will bring,” said Moses.

[NJmaverick]

1. Then this "laser" can be used to extort money from the rest of the world

[paulsby]

7. we need to attach these frickin lasers

to the heads of some sharks!

[NJmaverick]

13. Yes! or the Alan Parsons project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Duj2oZIC8U

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. "simulating" the energy of a hydrogen bomb.

My computer simulates the energy of a hydrogen bomb every time I nuke my opponents in Civilization.

[Robeysays]

3. i had to log in just so i could say

"hahaha, fuck yeah."

[uppityperson]

4. I've never dared do that. have wanted to, but haven't

I usually go with religious conversion en masse. Maybe I'll try nuking them instead.

[peace frog]

5. Careful where you point that thing, pal

The GOPers have big plans for this little beauty, you betcha. *wink*

[LiberalPersona]

6. What?

I can think of where laser technology like this might eventually lead us.
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Phaser

[drm604]

8. As I understand it

this has the potential for achieving inertial confinement fusion with a net energy gain. This could (note that I emphasized could) be an answer to our energy problems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ignition_Facility

The construction of the National Ignition Facility, a laser-based inertial confinement fusion research device at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California, is announced to have been completed on March 31st, 2009. The National Ignition Facility, or NIF, is a laser-based inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research device under construction at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in Livermore, California, United States. NIF uses powerful lasers to heat and compress a small amount of hydrogen fuel to the point where nuclear fusion reactions take place. NIF is the largest and most energetic ICF device built to date, and the first that is expected to reach the long-sought goal of "ignition", where the fusion reactions become self-sustaining.

[thelordofhell]

9. All You Need Is A Large Spinning Mirror

And you could vaporize a target from space.

[shadowknows69]

10. That's comforting. Like MAD in the 80's was comforting.

Some nightmares don't go away they just change cast and props.

[orwell]

11. And we will use it....

...unless we receive ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

[Noodleboy13]

12. But it's clumsy and inelegant.

Compared to my lightsaber.



peace
Noodleboy