Re: Colonists and Weapons

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Bilderback" <bbilderback@hotmail.com>
> My only observation was that, no matter how advanced the science of
> lasers gets, whether that means new energy sources, beam types
(Visible
> light, microwave, whatever), portability, etc., they will always
suffer
the
> setback of relying on their optics in order to be functional as a
weapon.
> That means that even slight misalignments, dirt, any sort of poor
> conditions, will have a far more deleterious effect on it's
performance
than
> say, a regular bullet-firing weapon. As a future frontiersman, NOT A
> SOLDIER, where I may spend days or weeks ALONE (No platoon sgt., no
> logistics section), away from my home, let alone from the nearest
town,
and
> even more removed from Earth, I want a weapon that can withstand rough
> contitions, be beaten about, is easy to service by myself.  And I want
it
to
> be able to drop big predators in their tracks.

A few remarks here:
There are some laser systems that need no optics, just the laser
crystal/cavity itself.
Aligning a simple optic (say, two lenses) is not that difficult. Indeed,
if
the laser can be tuned to produce a low-power visible light beam, I
reckon
it is easier than zeroing a gun (which also expends ammunition)..
The weapon itself could be built completely enclosed, except perhaps for
exchangeable power supplies. A bullet-shooting weapon needs at least one
opening (the muzzle) and probably more (for the magazine and cartridge
ejection)
Optics could be diamond coated, and thus proof against scratches.
Anyway,
scratched optics degrade fairly gracefully. Performance is impaired, but
only gradually. You could also carry replacement lenses.
You would have to keep the weapon clean, but you would have to do that
with
any weapon. In an emergency (say you just dropped the weapon in the mud
and
a crocodile is charging you) the laser might just be shot through the
dirt
(vaporising it).

The matter of stopping power is a more serious concern.

Also "Colonist" is not only a frontiersman many days away from other
humans.
There are also, for example, farmers who rarely venture more than a
day's
walk/drive from their home. Their requirements may well differ.

Greetings
Karl Heinz