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‘Science Fiction Fans, You’re Welcome’: Army Controls Lightning Bolts With Lasers

Jun. 29, 2012 8:53am Liz Klimas

Army Testing a Laser Induced Plasma Channel to Destroy Targets With Lightning

Laser-Induced Plasma Channel being demonstrated on a target. (Photo: U.S. Army)

Using technology that even Thor — the hammer-wielding, lightning-controlling Norse god — would be jealous of, the U.S. Army has begun to test directing lightning with laser technology.

As directly stated on the Army website announcing successful progress and testing of this innovation “soldiers and science fiction fans, you’re welcome.”

The scientists and engineers at Picatinny Arsenal created the Laser-Induced Plasma Channel (LIPC) to “take out targets that conduct electricity” by harnessing the power of lightning as directed by a laser. How does a laser help? Here’s how the Army explains it:

“Light travels more slowly in gases and solids than it does in a vacuum,” explained [lead scientist George] Fischer. “We typically think of the speed of light in each material as constant. There is, however, a very small additional intensity-dependent factor to its speed. In air, this factor is positive, so light slows down by a tiny fraction when the light is more intense.”

“If a laser puts out a pulse with modest energy, but the time is incredibly tiny, the power can be huge,” Fischer continued. “During the duration of the laser pulse, it can be putting out more power than a large city needs, but the pulse only lasts for two-trillionths of a second.”

“For very powerful and high intensity laser pulses, the air can act like a lens, keeping the light in a small-diameter filament,” said Fischer. “We use an ultra-short-pulse laser of modest energy to make a laser beam so intense that it focuses on itself in air and stays focused in a filament.”

To put the energy output in perspective, a big filament light bulb uses 100 watts. The optical amplifier output is 50 billion watts of optical power, Fischer said.

“If a laser beam is intense enough, its electro-magnetic field is strong enough to rip electrons off of air molecules, creating plasma,” said Fischer. “This plasma is located along the path of the laser beam, so we can direct it wherever we want by moving a mirror.”

“Air is composed of neutral molecules and is an insulator,” Fischer said. When lightning from a thunderstorm leaps from cloud to ground, it behaves just as any other sources of electrical energy and follows the path of least resistance.

“The plasma channel conducts electricity way better than un-ionized air, so if we set up the laser so that the filament comes near a high voltage source, the electrical energy will travel down the filament,” Fischer elaborated.

A little more simply put, Popular Science explains it this way:

In other words, just as lightning arcs from cloud to ground via the path of least resistance, a high-voltage current will find its way down this filament rather than arcing unpredictably through the air. In other words, the laser just creates the path of least resistance between the power source and the target. Laser, lightning, destruction of target–in that order.

Although the scientists were able to figure out technically how this would work, the Army stated that it wasn’t without its challenges, such as the danger of the light focusing in on and destroying parts of the laser itself.

Still with some success in testing — although refinement is still needed — Fischer said the team ”never got tired of the lightning bolts zapping our simulated [targets.]“

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Comments (51)

Titainiumman
Posted on July 1, 2012 at 9:54am
To stem the immigration onslaught,the government should buy a ten mile wide swath along the border and use it for live fire training and military exercises.They could have daily training by tracking and detaining those that still try to get across the border.
Heck you could even make it competitive,the squad that captures the most illegals every six months gets a week of additional leave.Now that’s what you call an incentive.

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- dswynne
  Posted on July 1, 2012 at 4:05pm
  Or, how about have the politicians actually enforce EXISTING immigration laws? Two-steps: secure the border, then targeted amnesty with fines.
  
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- Senior29
  Posted on July 1, 2012 at 11:26pm
  a live fire range would be good, or just buy the same 10 mile wide swath and put some of our exisitng military bases in it all along the border.
  
  Report this comment
jo blo
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:09pm
Why don’t we restrict their funding to just go to bombs, guns and vehicles? A lot of this seems to be directed at controlling civilians. And I don’t think our PC gov’t, run by either dims or repubs is going to control FOREIGN civilians.

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ENIGMA28724
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:45am
Is this something that could be used from a drone? The muslims would likely believe that Allah struck someone down if it looked like a lighting bolt from the sky. And I imagine no collateral damage.

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ICEDRAGON
Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:02am
Lets try it on the mohommedists. Say Pakistan, Afghanistan or any of the other stans.

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- Conservative-Atheist
  Posted on June 30, 2012 at 1:53am
  Stan Lee?
  
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762x51
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 4:14pm
Now that I have Mr. Fusion installed on my DeLorean I can power this bad boy. Then I’ll have an 88mph stainless steel gunship . . . sweet!

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DarthMims
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:05pm
Cool weapon, but it would be useless in space because it requires an atmosphere to create the plasma channel.

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- Farmer John
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:19pm
  But it would be great for crowd control. Obama will likely deploy it at Tea Party rallies.
  
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- Pontiac
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:42pm
  All the enemy needs is a ferrite cage or a good ground…
  
  Report this comment
- The_Jerk
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:22pm
  Shocking story!
  
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ValdostaMRA
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:56pm
This means we will be able to control Weather Lighting Strikes As Well. Shoot lasers into the storm clouds for a Laser Lightning Rod…..?

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ExSophus
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:15am
Using a LASER to direct an high-voltage electrical discharge has been being developed for DECADES. This is not new. Prior and ongoing testing has also involved attempts to use a LASER beam to guide a form of “directed lightning” Taser…one that will not require wires to stun the target. Just search on terms [wireless taser laser]

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- Gorp
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:48am
  Everybody knows that Star Trek has had the Phaser for decades. From the big rifle sized ones to the pocket size. The pocket size works on 2 AA Lithium Ion rechargeable batteries.
  
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AnimalsAsLeaders
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:45am
Personally, I think science is just another opinion.

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commonsense2012
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:28am
For some time I have been contemplating the very same thing. I have even considered developing a device that sends an electrical pulse down a laser beam to stun its target. Shooting electrodes with wires such as with a Taser would be a thing of the past. Basically, a stun gun using lasers.

baileyassociaties@yahoo.com

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ShyMan
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:27am
Cool.

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tiki886
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:27am
If this were my project I’d be drinking beer and zapping everything I could get my hands on. I guess that’s why I’m not a scientist.

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- Twisty Guru
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:44pm
  lol
  Speaking as a retired Man of Science!, let me assure you that there almost certainly were adult beverages being consumed while many, MANY items got zapped!
  After all…it’s for SCIENCE!
  
  Report this comment
@leftfighter
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:19am
So does this mean we’re looking at Star Wars blasters soon?

Pew! Pew! Pew!

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woofs
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:08am
Enter Macro Science, where force, mass, energy and gravity are modulated. Why struggle to create when one only needs to leverage. Now if only this magnificent insight could be applied to wisdom. We instead seem bent on creating societal frankensteins, which threaten to extinguish the spark of individuality and personal freedom that leverages the immense ether of a similarly not well understood metaphysical universe and replace it with the gritty smut that falls out of overvalued egos stroking one another in a committee.

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AmazingGrace8
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:02am
The latest incident with William Shatner: he got shafted by a lazer. LOL
@detritus….good idea….reminds me of the fencing with the series “Lost”.

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Civil-Z
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:54am
This isn’t new. This is a hobbyist thing. If you are into high voltage projects, like tesla coils and such you know this is only the tip of the ice berg. Also if you believe this is the most impressive thing in a while, believe me you are mistaken. This will not probably be useful in the short term or it wouldn’t be advertised. The real toys that work are not allowed to be spoken about and they are beyond this.

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Todd P
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:51am
Great. Another weapon to use against the citizens in the 2nd Civil War.

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- Vader234
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 5:36pm
  And in WW3, if Obama is re-elected.
  
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LeadNotFollow
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:04am
Wow!
Maybe they could direct a couple of these lightning bolts toward the idiots in Washington, who are running our country into the ground. Just close enough that they will need to change their undies.

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- shogun459
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:35am
  wouldn’t work the vacuum inside some of thier heads could trap the lightening.
  
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theblazerunner
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:04am
nikola tesla .

look who owns his patents.

tesla knew of this way back when…and now we supposedly just developed these weapons…
what a fargin joke.

The Missing Secrets Of Nikola Tesla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5uiK_QnyrE

Nikola Tesla – Master of Lightning 2000 Full video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tTGg3LVCvk&feature=related

btw, spent 10years in airforce as laser research and design ,also worked on the chaff and flare counter measures systems…35 years ago.

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- shogun459
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:39am
  Tesla didn’t have lasers nor the tech to measure these effects, they are just working his ideas.
  Is there anything you won’t Dis? Anything that isn’t beneath your massive intellect oh mighty Khan?
  Other than your own reflection of course.
  
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- dont_drive_slow_in_the_left_lane_obliviot
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:10am
  apparently not. after all 35 years ago he used to spit shine the “release chaff” button. combine that with the ability to search youtube for tesla videos and we have the ultimate authority. thats how he is qualified to look down on a team that has figured out how to steer lightning.
  
  oh and don’t get him started on warp drives, he invested that back in boy scouts.
  
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- BloodSweatandTears
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:45am
  Inventions are inspired by wishful thinking. Mine is that we could harvest the energy produced by lightning to power our cities.
  
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- JustMeInAZ
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 3:05pm
  We could if we could just get the Flux Capacitor to work.
  
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- Howyinthehills
  Posted on July 1, 2012 at 5:24pm
  I thought of this back around 1970, the other element missing here is that there is a huge cloud of electrical charge surroundin the earth. It is fueled by thunderstorms around the planet. The electric field that results from this is about 300 volts per meter. This laser could punch a hole through the insulating air and discharge the stored charge to the ground. Two problems: 1. Not sure how much energy would flow down the ionized channel, it might be much greater than the average lightening bolt. 2. how do you store this energy until you are ready to use it? That last is the big question. It is the same problem solar and wind wrestle with, but on a much shorter time scale.
  
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kaydeebeau
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:03am
“The plasma channel conducts electricity way better than un-ionized air, ….

Even nature rejects unions :) (lame joke but I couldn’ resist)

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- macpappy
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:10am
  Ha, clever!
  
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- firstgenesis
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:10am
  OH My Gosh that is HILARIOUS!!!! I can’t stop laughing!!!
  
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- DarthMims
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:54pm
  That was pretty good.
  
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BOMUSTGO
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:03am
Revelation 13:13 says the False Prophet will be able to call fire down from heaven (the sky) in the sight of man.

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- macpappy
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:12am
  Please, if God was so intuned as to what the future science would be like, why did it not give the 10 commandment in DVD format? I think you are reaching a bit.
  
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- Kaoscontrol
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:30am
  God even wrote one for you, MACPAPPY… “The FOOL hath said in his heart “there is no God” Psam 14:1.
  
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- BOMUSTGO
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:38am
  McCrappy,,God knew about the last days as knowledge and travel will be increased(Dan 12:4).Computers are now being used to crack the Bible codes in Hebrew.
  
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- TRUMPETCALL
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:14pm
  @BOMustGo:
  
  FYI – there are NO Bible Codes.
  
  Read it for yourself.
  
  It will change your life.
  
  @MACPAPPY:
  
  “….deceiving if possible the very elect”
  
  Matthew 24:24
  
  Tic…..Toc…..
  
  Report this comment
- kaydeebeau
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:34pm
  @ trumpet – might want to brush up on your Hebrew. the Hebrew language in itself is full of codes
  
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- jo blo
  Posted on June 30, 2012 at 8:11pm
  Yeah, MacPappy, that makes a lot of sense! I never thought of that. All those ancient Hebrews would have had to do is go to a Best Buy or Wal Mart in the middle of the ancient desert and buy a DVD player. Then they could’ve watched the DVD that YOU think God should have given them. Brilliant, dood!
  
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:57am
Cute.

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T-2
Posted on June 29, 2012 at 8:56am
awesome, use that on the boarder.

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- HereticWilson
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:31am
  Why would I use that on my boarder? He pays his rent on time and doesn’t cause me any trouble.
  
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- DetritusScreener
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 9:46am
  Instant fencing: Laser ionized electrofied virtual fence around the border.
  
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- RedDirtTexas
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:39am
  I still think alligators in the Rio Grande and land mines would be cost effective! Of course we would put up warning signs in English, Spanish, and Muslish so as to be politically correct!
  
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- JustMeInAZ
  Posted on June 29, 2012 at 3:09pm
  I’ve always been a big supporter or the Great Wall of AZ (extending all across the Mexico border of course). 20 feet high, with guard towers (bullet proof glass included). Pull it back about half a mile from the actual border and clear out all brush and trees and make it a sandy wasteland that anyone can be seen tring to cross. We have plenty of illegals here just willing to jump on “shovel ready jobs”, let’s get them working.
  
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