Technology: directed energy weapons, part 1

Self-tutoring about technology: the tutor begins about directed energy weapons.

Directed energy weapons, from my understanding, focus an energy beam at a target. Laser weapons are examples.

A laser beam is different from natural light because of the way it’s organized, which is why even a low-power laser can be destructive in a way the same wattage of natural light wouldn’t be.

To develop perspective on the power of directed energy weapons, one might consider the fact that, according to lockheedmartin, the US DOD took delivery of a 300kW laser on Sept 15, 2022.

The max power of household microwaves is around 1.7kW.

Source:

fda.gov

spaceplace.nasa.gov

daftlogic.com