RE: Laser snipers

True. But it would ionize it all the way to the target. Thus the sonic
boom
would not be as localized as a gun shot. However, if there were the
accompaning electrical discharge (lightning), it could show almost
exactly
where the sniper is.

On the other hand the film I saw (several years ago) of an high energy
laser
hitting a target did NOT leave a visible trail (spectrum was above
visible).
I could not tell if there was any associated sound because the target
exploded as the metal was superheated.

---
Brian Bell
bbell1@insight.rr.com
ICQ: 12848051
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---

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU
[mailto:owner-gzg-l@lists.CSUA.Berkeley.EDU]On Behalf Of
Beth.Fulton@marine.csiro.au
Sent: Monday, September 17, 2001 19:21
To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
Subject: RE: Laser snipers

G'day guys,

I know zip about weapon grade lasers, but...

>Doesn't have to be visible light. It
>could be Infrared. X-ray lasers
>I think would be silent however...

If at sufficient strength (don't know if weapon grade would be that by
the
way), wouldn't it ionise the atmosphere and thus produce a sonic boom?
Good
for the first shot, bad for any subsequent ones as they'd know where the
sniper was.

Cheers