China moves a big step closer to ‘Star Wars’ laser weapons
Mainland scientists claim they have developed the world’s most powerful supercapacitor, which could lead to advanced ‘Star Wars-type’ laser weapons.
Mainland scientists are developing the world’s most powerful supercapacitor that could make Star Wars weapons a reality.
Prototypes of directed-energy weapons such as laser cannons and railguns have been developed in many countries, but few have made it out of their laboratories due to their size and weight.
If the new technology really works and wins a nod from military, a Star Wars weapon may not be very far from us
The Boeing YAL-1 airborne laser test-bed system had to be mounted on a 400-tonne Boeing 747 simply to kill a small drone. The project was cancelled in 2012.
Laser scientists say it is not their fault. After decades of effort, the actual laser weapon has been reduced to the size of a suitcase. But the enormous power supply needed to supply has remained prohibitively large.
The type of storage devices that can provide very large bursts of energy in a short time are called capacitors. Smaller versions are used widely, from starter motors of vehicles to medical implants.
Large, or supercapacitors have been used in lasers and other forms of electrically powered weapons as to store energy and boost power. Traditionally, such capacitors have been heavy and bulky – some are bigger than shipping containers.
Read more: