Re: Colonists and Weapons

Solid state focusing is being researched as we speak...  Conceptually, 
think fiber-optics from start to exit of the generator.  AFAIR there's
two 
types, one using "imperfections" within the fiber to bounce off of
(Think 
nano-sized mirrors) the other uses the refractive properities of
differing 
materials to focus.  The major advantage is ruggedness.

The other concept to wrap around here is auto-correcting focus.  One
that 
set's itself.  Totally self contained.

Either of these shouldn't be a stretch of imagination or technology...
not 
when you're willing to concede power, beam types, portability, 
etc...	Which can all be "solved" currently with tech we have, or will
have 
in the next decade.  Doubt it, and I suggest you go look at some of the 
military research being done on SDI (Star wars).

On a side, but possibly interesting note to some out there...  Recently
a 
particle "laser" was produced.	Coherent matter.  Yum.	No, not a 
"traditional" particle beam, or ion gun, but a beam of coherent 
matter.  For more info go look up Bose-Einstein condensates and recent 
articles about them.

As for stopping power, again, I'll point to research going on right 
now.  There's research going on for use of a ground based laser to
propel a 
satellite into orbit.  Quick and dirty, it hits the bottom of the craft
and 
super heats the air under it, expanding air pushes the satellite up. 
This 
is done with today's lasers.  With tomorrows lasers, and a bit of
research, 
we may find that this concept could be used in a laser gun.  So, super 
heated air such that it "explodes" (not correct usage, I know, done for 
effect... :) right on top of someone...  Concussion, burning...

Rand.

At 08:09 AM 1/31/02 +0100, K.H.Ranitzsch wrote:

>----- 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