01-16-2017, 01:58 PM
Looking at the article, Luke does actually devote a paragraph to more advanced versions of the laser weapon:
Higher-tech handheld laser models use more advanced smart matter emitters, which are almost twice as efficient at producing light. Such emitters can double the beam output for the same energy input, while at the same time vastly reducing the cooling needs (you only need to shed as heat the energy that does not go into the beam). More advanced laser weapons also have a greater flexibility in beam color, which can be adjusted along a continuum from near infrared through the entire visible range and into the near ultraviolet. Room temperature superconductor or magmatter storage loops allow hi-tech handheld lasers to store much more power; a room temperature superconductor loop typically holds 15 to 20 MJ/kg - compare this to the 0.2 MJ/kg of the ultracapacitor in the medium-tech laser described above. A magmatter loop could hold such large amounts of energy that effectively unlimited shots are possible. Of course, not everyone can make or afford a magmatter power pack, and playing with magmatter has its own dangers.
Also, based on conversations we had when he was producing these articles, the more capable superconducting power storage goes into more shots rather than more energetic beams. Also, he mentions increased efficiency in the paragraph above, which would get you more 'bang' for the same 'buck' without needing more power. There's also the issue of why more power would be needed for an anti-personnel weapon. Unless you are dealing with a larger or durable target or the like, once you have the energy to kill or incapacitate the target, adding any more is just overkill.
So, larger cooling is probably not necessary, at least for weapons designed to deal with human scale bionts.
My 2c worth,
Todd
Higher-tech handheld laser models use more advanced smart matter emitters, which are almost twice as efficient at producing light. Such emitters can double the beam output for the same energy input, while at the same time vastly reducing the cooling needs (you only need to shed as heat the energy that does not go into the beam). More advanced laser weapons also have a greater flexibility in beam color, which can be adjusted along a continuum from near infrared through the entire visible range and into the near ultraviolet. Room temperature superconductor or magmatter storage loops allow hi-tech handheld lasers to store much more power; a room temperature superconductor loop typically holds 15 to 20 MJ/kg - compare this to the 0.2 MJ/kg of the ultracapacitor in the medium-tech laser described above. A magmatter loop could hold such large amounts of energy that effectively unlimited shots are possible. Of course, not everyone can make or afford a magmatter power pack, and playing with magmatter has its own dangers.
Also, based on conversations we had when he was producing these articles, the more capable superconducting power storage goes into more shots rather than more energetic beams. Also, he mentions increased efficiency in the paragraph above, which would get you more 'bang' for the same 'buck' without needing more power. There's also the issue of why more power would be needed for an anti-personnel weapon. Unless you are dealing with a larger or durable target or the like, once you have the energy to kill or incapacitate the target, adding any more is just overkill.
So, larger cooling is probably not necessary, at least for weapons designed to deal with human scale bionts.
My 2c worth,
Todd