Science

192 Laser Beams Combined To Form One Megajoule Laser Shot

11:00AM January 29, 2010 | Rosa Golijan

The folks at the national Ignition Facility decided to demonstrate fusion by focusing the energy of 192 super powerful lasers onto a tiny target. Well, they certainly proved their concept by producing a one megajoule laser shot. Yeah, that’s pretty powerful.

This demonstration is being proclaimed as a “key step towards nuclear fusion” by the National Nuclear Security Administration. After all, this is apparently the first time such a level of laser energy was reached. More experiments will occur in the summer of this year, but you can start with the pewpew jokes now. [Physorg]

Laser beam pictured is not the 1 megajoule beam, instead it’s a picture by Daily Galaxy

Comments

  • Sam

    January 29, 2010 at 11:21 AM

    It should be called a “Death Star”

    • Red T-Rex

      January 29, 2010 at 2:21 PM

      Yeah, I instantly though Death Star as well. Look out Alderaan! Just proves that George was ahead of his time. Can’t wait until they announce “Portable fixed length laser with a convenient handle”

  • Tim

    January 29, 2010 at 1:06 PM

    I saw this on telly I think. They generate several hundred laser beams, each around a foot in diameter, then compress them all down in to a single point.

    Then: Fusion! Maybe.

  • Brendan

    January 29, 2010 at 1:52 PM

    Dr Evil anyone?
    “Freakin’ sharks with freakin’ laser beams on their freakin’ heads”

  • Greg

    January 29, 2010 at 2:31 PM

    Hope no one shines it in any pilots eyes when coming into land !

  • Nicholas

    January 29, 2010 at 5:46 PM

    I left wondering what took them so long.
    Is the leap between, “We need more power,” and “Aim more lasers at it,” really so great?

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