Finally! TESLA COILS!!! Sort of...

[Patroklos]

More accurately

Army Developing Laser That Shoots Lightning

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. (CBSDC) – Soon, superheroes such as Thor won’t be the only ones who are able to use lightning to destroy their target.

U.S. Army personnel at Picatinny Arsenal are developing a military weapon that is able to shoot lightning bolts down laser beams, destroying any potential target with enough power to fuel a large metropolitan city.

...

Though the actual time of the lightning only goes for two-trillionths of a second, the amount of energy generated by the LIPC is jaw-dropping, estimated to be more than enough power to fuel a large city, Fisher said.

“If a laser puts out a pulse with modest energy, but the time is incredibly tiny, the power can be huge,” Fischer said. “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.”

The lightning, which equates to 50 billion watts of optical power, is still in development mode as scientists continue to hammer out details for how to synchronize the LIPC with the high voltage, toughen up the device to survive extreme conditions and make the LIPC sustainable for the long term.

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/06/28/army-developing-laser-that-shoots-lightning/

Basically the weapon shoots a laser at a target which creates an ionization channel that allows the electricity to channel itself through. Not related to Tesla's coil and not exactly how Tesla envisioned his energy weapon to work but along the same idea.

Just another avenue for energy weapons to become viable. Due to the requirement to have the energy to transfer in order to make the kill we won't be seeing any mobile versions of this any time soon (I could see something tank sized possible in the near future), so dreams of pulse rifles should remain as such. However, this could be very useful as a fixed land based AA weapon or shipboard all around weapon.

Thought it was cool

 

[Synobun]

It's surprising that military application is the first priority and not civilian application.

Oh who am I kidding, this is to be expected.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

"two-trillionths of a second"

Because one-trillionth just wasn't enough.

Nice.

 

[holy king]

putin already comissioned a four trillionth version.

 

[Monsterzuma]

putin already comissioned a four trillionth version.

that'll go nicely with his new zombie gun:

http://dvice.com/archives/2012/04/russia-announce.php

 

[Verarde]

It's surprising that military application is the first priority and not civilian application.

Oh who am I kidding, this is to be expected.

Well, the army did develop it. So of course they are using it for military purposes.

 

[Crezth]

It's surprising that military application is the first priority and not civilian application.

Oh who am I kidding, this is to be expected.

What are you babbling about?

 

[Lillefix]

What are you babbling about?

Tesla coils like death rays, should obviously first and foremost have a civilian application:


Link to video.

 

[Mise]

Until they nuke our power plants

 

[El_Machinae]

If the technology trend continues for this (very cool, thanks Patroklos) weapon like it did for computers, then in a decade the lightning will last for a thousandth of a second

 

[Patroklos]

Assuming none of you are being sarcastic, I think you are approaching this the wrong way.

The point is the decrease in the time the energy is transferred makes it more effective, thus requiring less energy for effect.

 

[Joecoolyo]

However, this could be very useful as a fixed land based AA weapon or shipboard all around weapon.

I thought lightning strikes generally didn't bring down planes.

Unless this is stronger than the average lightning strike.

It's surprising that military application is the first priority and not civilian application.

Oh who am I kidding, this is to be expected.

What possible civilian application does a lightning death ray have

 

[Kozmos]

I have been tracking this tech for my own reasons and I will say this has a civilian component as well, namely harvesting lightning in storm-heavy areas and directing harmful strikes away from civilian infrastructure. All preliminary of course.

 

[Synobun]

Well, the army did develop it. So of course they are using it for military purposes.

What are you babbling about?

What possible civilian application does a lightning death ray have

I actually forgot to insert a joke somewhere in my post. But since it's been so long and I can't remember it, I'll try to make a serious observation attached to my initial post.

It is not surprising that the military takes the concept of a tesla coil and invest in turning it into a weapon rather than a civilian agency taking the concept and invest in turning it into a useful civilian application.

That's still worded very poorly, but hopefully I don't seem like I'm just babbling nonsense now.

 

[Patroklos]

Like I said, it's not the same technology as a real tesla coil, I just said that because it would instantly remind us gaming geeks of the fictional C&C weapon.

 

[Leoreth]

Yay, better ways for us to kill each other! Let's uncork the champagne!

 

[BvBPL]

What possible civilian application does a lightning death ray have

Electroplating. Writing your name on the moon. Pest control. The rapid transmission of energy across distances with little loss. Office Parties. Laser shows. Protection from space pirates.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Yay, better ways for us to kill each other! Let's uncork the champagne!

Better than killing each other in old, boring ways.

 

[Ironsided]

As long as Americans and Asians and other set back tribes kill each other, who cares. Europeans however - not cool.

 

[Leoreth]

Better than killing each other in old, boring ways.

Still a waste of human time and ingenuity.