Laser Rifle Potential

Hey guys! So I am not saying this is possible, but is there anything you can think of that would creat a powerfull enough flash to mark paper as a good distance? Say, 50'? I want to build something out of, say, a capacitor bank, power suply, and whatever else you guys suggest, that could be used for target practice. Doesnt have to be frighteningly powerfull, I just though it would be cool... Any sparks forming?

Thanks,
Liam.

No need a laser rifle to burn at long distances

Any way to get this kind of power in a hand held?

While it's an interesting idea, I think for it to be effective +10W may be in order to actually do some real physical damage. A properly focussed beam can have a significant range, but as any kind of light source with distance there is a drop off in power. Higher starting mW = longer range and more damage. There is also an issue of light frequency and absorbtion. Most of the military lasers run in the deep IR spectrum so that the majority of objects absorb the beam and not reflect it.

Being more realistic, safety is also a concern with a project like this. One mistake with a weapon like this could mean blindness for a passerby or neighbour.


Here is an example of a small truck mounted laser by ONR killing IEDs. 1KW 808nm demoed here. enjoy.

Laser Destroys IEDs in Test - YouTube

Seoul_lasers said:

There is also an issue of light frequency and absorbtion. Most of the military lasers run in the deep IR spectrum so that the majority of objects absorb the beam and not reflect it.

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I've never understood that, since relative to most of the visible spectrum, near visible IR like 808 has horrible absorption.

Seoul_lasers said:

Most of the military lasers run in the deep IR spectrum so that the majority of objects absorb the beam and not reflect it.

Click to expand...

rhd said:

I've never understood that, since relative to most of the visible spectrum, near visible IR like 808 has horrible absorption.

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Like SL mentioned, 'deep IR', 808 is not what i'd consider deep IR. The only thing
good about 808 is that its low cost. Plenty of surplus out there to play with, which
is great for private R&D.

wannaburn said:

Like SL mentioned, 'deep IR', 808 is not what i'd consider deep IR. The only thing
good about 808 is that its low cost. Plenty of surplus out there to play with, which
is great for private R&D.

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That much is obvious. The reason I find this relationship odd, is that clearly there's neither a positive nor negative correlation between wavelength and absorption. A lot of materials absorb UV well, less for NIR, and more again for high IR.

wait! Before this goes in the wrong direction! I DO NOT want a weapon! Making that clear right now! I want a rifle shaped laser, that can mark a piece of black paper from a long distance. Preferably something which would pulse quickly then die, but beyond that I realy dont care. I just want something for target practice.

wannaburn said:

Like SL mentioned, 'deep IR', 808 is not what i'd consider deep IR. The only thing
good about 808 is that its low cost. Plenty of surplus out there to play with, which
is great for private R&D.

Click to expand...

That wasn't the point. I am making reference to the laser in the video which runs on a bank of 100W 808nm laser diodes 808nm which is clearly NIR. The other laser platform is the HETL that runs (2.7-2.9 µm) .. this is deep IR. Not a solid state device rather a Chemical laser running Deuterium and Fluorine.

At any rate ( back on the subject at hand)... a laser gun to pop holes in paper still needs a great deal of energy especially since this project is intended to be used in an instant on off way. Me thinks a ruby laser would suffice for this quite well. However,
this project is incredibly dangerous due the the high voltages/currents and would never suggest it for a beginner.

Lascannon said:

wait! Before this goes in the wrong direction! I DO NOT want a weapon! Making that clear right now! I want a rifle shaped laser, that can mark a piece of black paper from a long distance. Preferably something which would pulse quickly then die, but beyond that I realy dont care. I just want something for target practice.

Click to expand...

See this thread http://laserpointerforums.com/f65/long-distance-burning-question-66781.html

Arayan said:

See this thread http://laserpointerforums.com/f65/long-distance-burning-question-66781.html

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Best... thread... ever. Thanks so much!