Lasers
By jnitram
- 586 reads
Laser
Laser means "Light amplification by stimulated emission of
radiation."
In Lasers all the light is at the same wavelength. This is achieved
by
exciting a collection of atoms to a higher energy state. In reverting
to
the normal energy state they emit a photon- which is an "atom" of
light.
Another property is that laser light is "in phase." This means
that
all the light waves travel as if stuck together - like an army of
soldiers marching in step.
Lasers can have low enrgy, which are useful in operations on the eye
or
in laser printing.
Or they can have very high energy , used in weapons.
All this energy can be pinpointed to aim at a small target.
The USA plans to put very powerful lasers in outer space as part of
its
missile defence system. Though purpointedly meant to destroy
missiles
travelling in outer space, this could if necessary be used to
destroy
any location on earth.
It would be a tragedy if this took place. The constant competition
to
gain absolute power wastes the Earth's resources. "Absolute power
corrupts absolutely" is I believe part of the famous dictum by
Lord
Acton.
Why does not the USA think again. After all could this not destroy
the
USA itself just as the Soviet Union was brought to an end by its
own
hand spending too much on weapons?
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