It would have to have unimaginable power and a very tight beam. I am not sure if we have technology to do that yet. Just the power source alone, let alone the laser technology that can withstand that kind of power.
Also, we'd have to have secretly put it into space, which is a violation of all sorts of international agreements.
I'm thinking it would have to either be an infrared laser or a laser tuned to a microwave-like frequency (maser) that is nitrogen responsive since most of the air is nitrogen. Military can't rely on water vapor since its so variable, nor oxygen since its so low % in the air.
One would have to turn an air channel, even as thin as a thread (just to give electrons an easy path) would have to go several miles, 50-100 mi for example if its in ultra low orbit
That is what the article discusses. Interestingly, the scientist quoted there points to the duration of the input. So normally, one would think of input first, but he seems to suggest that a tiny fraction of time, allows for the generation of HUGE input.
Given the other articles, it looks like these capabilities are live and viable. And the video seems to indicate it.
As for violations of international agreements .... the article mentions mirrors and lenses. So, the beam itself may originate somewhere else, or maybe even reinforced midway by a capacitor of some kind..
It's possible. It would have to be space or near space based electrolaser (Laser-Induced Plasma Channel (LIPC))
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolaser
It would have to have unimaginable power and a very tight beam. I am not sure if we have technology to do that yet. Just the power source alone, let alone the laser technology that can withstand that kind of power.
Also, we'd have to have secretly put it into space, which is a violation of all sorts of international agreements.
I'm thinking it would have to either be an infrared laser or a laser tuned to a microwave-like frequency (maser) that is nitrogen responsive since most of the air is nitrogen. Military can't rely on water vapor since its so variable, nor oxygen since its so low % in the air.
One would have to turn an air channel, even as thin as a thread (just to give electrons an easy path) would have to go several miles, 50-100 mi for example if its in ultra low orbit
Good points!
That is what the article discusses. Interestingly, the scientist quoted there points to the duration of the input. So normally, one would think of input first, but he seems to suggest that a tiny fraction of time, allows for the generation of HUGE input.
Given the other articles, it looks like these capabilities are live and viable. And the video seems to indicate it.
As for violations of international agreements .... the article mentions mirrors and lenses. So, the beam itself may originate somewhere else, or maybe even reinforced midway by a capacitor of some kind..