Michigan laser beam believed to set record for int

[Skram0]

Michigan laser beam believed to set record for intensity

http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=6346

"The new amplifier of the HERCULES laser fires. The laser is now capable of producing a beam so intense scientists believe it sets a world record."

"The record-setting beam measures 20 billion trillion watts per square centimeter. It contains 300 terawatts of power. That’s 300 times the capacity of the entire U.S. electricity grid. The laser beam's power is concentrated to a 1.3-micron speck about 100th the diameter of a human hair. A human hair is about 100 microns wide."

 

[Switch]

Re: Michigan laser beam believed to set record for

Where to they get enough juice to power it then?
They must have some sick capacitor banks or something...

 

[Cyparagon]

Re: Michigan laser beam believed to set record for

It can fire once every ten minutes I hear. With a 100 femptosecond pulse, it's actually not a lot of average power.
I calculate 50mW average

 

[member02]

Re: Michigan laser beam believed to set record for

weak, pulse output for the lose!

cw output ftw!

 

[Cyparagon]

Re: Michigan laser beam believed to set record for

Well... the other side of that argument would be: would you rather expend all of your money as it comes and purchase 10 thousand packs of bubble gum, or save up and get a sports car?

 

[Switch]

Re: Michigan laser beam believed to set record for

Well... the other side of that argument would be: would you rather expend all of your money as it comes and purchase 10 thousand packs of bubble gum, or save up and get a sports car?

Every ten minutes

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

Re: Michigan laser beam believed to set record for

This looks similar to the laser discussed in the post under this one. Must be two of them now.

Mike