Electrolaser: Information from Answers.com

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1 Laser-Induced Plasma Channel
2 Uses
3 Examples of electrolasers
4 References

An electrolaser is a type of electroshock weapon which is also a directed-energy weapon. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive Laser-Induced Plasma Channel (LIPC). A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel and delivered to the target, thus functioning overall as a large-scale, high energy, long-distance version of the Taser electroshock gun.

Alternating current is sent through a series of step-up transformers, increasing the voltage and decreasing the current. The final voltage may be between 10⁸ and 10⁹ volts.^{[citation needed]} This current is fed into the plasma channel created by the laser beam.

Laser-Induced Plasma Channel

A Laser-Induced Plasma Channel (LIPC) is formed by the following process:

A laser (possibly a laser diode) emits a laser beam into the air.
The laser beam causes blooming, which is the temporary change of state of component(s) of the atmosphere (like oxygen) to ionize into a plasma.
The plasma forms an electrically conductive plasma channel.

Because a Laser-Induced Plasma Channel relies on the atmospheric blooming effect, there must be air or some other gas between the electrolaser weapon and the target: it will not work the same in space vacuum; but in space this lack of blooming lets the laser beam travel uninhibited and act as a weapon if powerful enough.^{[citation needed]}

Uses

Methods of use:

To kill or incapacitate a human target through electric shock.
To seriously damage, disable, or destroy any electric or electronic devices in the target.
As electrolasers and natural lightning both use plasma channels to conduct electric current, an electrolaser can set up a light-induced plasma channel for uses such as:
- To study lightning
- During a thunderstorm, to make lightning discharge at a safe time and place, as with a lightning conductor.
- As a weapon, to make a thunderhead deliver a precise and plausibly deniable lightning strike onto a target from an aircraft; in this case, the aircraft and laser can be compared to a transistor, in that the relatively minor amount of initial input from the laser (base) allows a large amount of energy to flow between the cloud (collector) and the ground (emitter).^{[citation needed]}

Because of the plasma channel, an electrolaser may cause an accident if there is a thunderstorm (or other electricity sources such as overhead powerlines) about.

The only defenses against electron particle beam weapons are magnetic fields, electrical insulators, capacitors, electrostatic fields, and Faraday cages.

See electroshock gun for more information (principles of operation, controversies, etc).

An electrolaser is not presently practical for wireless energy transfer due to danger and low efficiency.

Examples of electrolasers

Ionatron

Publicly traded company Ionatron develops directed-energy weapons for the United States Military. The company has produced a device called the Joint IED Neutralizer (JIN) which was deemed unfit for field use in 2006 but may presently be undergoing field testing in Iraq^[1]. The JIN is intended for safely detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Future designs include weapons mounted on land, air and sea vehicles and as a hand-held infantry version.

Ionatron said that the weapons will be able to be used as a non-lethal alternative to current weaponry, but will be able to deliver a high enough voltage jolt to kill.

Phoenix

There was an unconfirmed report that in 1985 the U.S. Navy tested an electrolaser.^{[citation needed]} Its targets were missiles and aircraft. This device was known as the Phoenix project within the Strategic Defense Initiative research program. It was first proved by experiment at long range in 1985. But this report may have referred to an early test of MIRACL, which is or was a high-powered chemical laser.^{[citation needed]}

HSV Technologies

HSV Technologies, formerly of San Diego, California http://www.hsvti.com, are designing a non-lethal device which was profiled in the 2002 TIME magazine article “Beyond the Rubber Bullet”. It is an electrolaser using ultraviolet laser beams, and promises to immobilize living targets at a distance without contact. There is plan for an engine-disabling variation for use against the electronic ignitions of cars.