A laser is a quantum optical generator. Today, there are no military lasers other than the American ALTB (military laboratory with a prototype of such weapons on board). Everything else is only R&D.
Laser weapons (the so-called "death rays") excite the imagination of both ordinary people and scientists. Recently, the media has been filled with information about developments in different countries of this type of weapon. There are reports of practical experiments with him. What is it all about and what is the actual situation in this area today?
Laser weapons are based on the use of high-energy electromagnetic directional radiation, which is generated by various kinds of lasers. Its action is determined by shock-pulse and thermomechanical effects, which can lead to mechanical destruction of the affected object, as well as temporary blindness of a person. If the work is performed in a pulsed mode, with a high energy density, then the thermal effect is accompanied by shock.
Laser weapons according to the principle of action are divided into blinding, burning, overheating, electromagnetic pulse and projection (project pictures on clouds, which can demoralize an unprepared enemy).
At present, chemical, x-ray, nuclear-pumped, solid-state, and free-electron lasers are considered the most suitable for use.
In the last decade, laser weapons have improved at an especially fast pace. This is due to the transition from pumping its active elements by the lamp method to the energy method using laser diodes. The ability to generate radiation with different wavelengths makes it possible to use it both for power impact on the target, and for the transmission of information.
Now work is underway to create X-ray lasers, the radiation of which is 100-10000 times more than the energy of the optical range lasers. It is able to penetrate even through large thicknesses of different materials. An X-ray laser strikes the target with a pulsed impact, which leads to the evaporation of the material on the surface of the targets.
Laser weapons are characterized by stealth application (no smoke, flame, sound), high accuracy, its effect is almost instantaneous, comparable to the speed of light. But its damaging effect depends on the transparency of the atmosphere, therefore, in difficult weather conditions (fog, snow, rain, smoke, etc.), it decreases.
What is a laser weapon of Russia? Nikolai Makarov, chief of the General Staff of the Armed forces of the Russian Federation, said that in Russia, as in the world, work is underway on a combat laser. Then he added that "it is premature to talk about its characteristics."
Thus, the promising weapon of Russia is not yet directly connected with the laser. So say official sources. Although the Russian Federation was the first country to achieve significant results in this area. She began to develop in the field of tactical weapons before the States and has prototypes of high-precision chemical warfare lasers.
