Electrolaser
An electrolaser is a type of electroshock weapon that is also a directed-energy weapon. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC). A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel and delivered to the target, thus functioning overall as a large-scale, high energy, long-distance version of the Taser electroshock gun.
Alternating current is sent through a series of step-up transformers, increasing the voltage and decreasing the current. The final voltage may be between 108 and 109 volts.
Laser-induced plasma channel
A laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC) is formed by the following process:
Because a laser-induced plasma channel relies on ionization, gas must exist between the electrolaser weapon and its target. If a laser-beam is intense enough, its electromagnetic field is strong enough to rip electrons off of air molecules, or whatever gas happens to be in between, creating plasma.
Uses
Methods of use:
Because of the plasma channel, an electrolaser may cause an accident if there is a thunderstorm (or other electricity sources such as overhead powerlines) about.
An electrolaser is not presently practical for wireless energy transfer due to danger and low efficiency.
Examples of electrolasers
Applied Energetics
Applied Energetics (formerly Ionatron) develops directed-energy weapons for the United States military. The company has produced a device called the Joint IED Neutralizer (JIN), which was intended for safely detonating improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The device was deemed unsuitable for field use in 2006,
Applied Energetics said that the weapons will be able to be used as a non-lethal alternative to current weaponry, but will be able to deliver a high enough voltage jolt to kill.
Applied Energetics say that they are working on an electrolaser system, called LGE (Laser Guided Energy).
Phoenix
There was an unconfirmed report that in 1985 the U.S. Navy tested an electrolaser.
HSV Technologies
HSV Technologies, Inc. (Stood for the last names of the original founders, Herr, Schlesinger and Vernon; this is NOT the same company as Holden Special Vehicles), formerly of San Diego, California, US, then Port Orchard, Washington, designed a non-lethal device which was profiled in the 2002 Time magazine article "Beyond the Rubber Bullet".
Picatinny Arsenal
Scientists and engineers from Picatinny Arsenal have demonstrated that an electric discharge can go through a laser beam. The laser beam is self-focusing due to the high laser intensity of 50 gigawatts, which changes the speed of light in air.