Solid State Laser News

[CJohnston]

So were previous efforts where they had claimed they had gone through and matured multiple generations of systems..Have been seeing this and hearing it from their folks for a long time..Meanwhile, it would be interesting to get an update from them on their actual funded HEL system (300kW) where they are partnered with Boeing IIRC.

Which previous airborne platforms weren't IRAD for GA? Their partnership with Boeing to put an airborne laser on some Boeing aircraft was IRAD (which branched off the OSD Boeing-GA-ASI partnership for the 300kW laser) and so is the current F-15 proposal

 

[bring_it_on]

Which previous airborne platforms weren't IRAD for GA? Their partnership with Boeing to put an airborne laser on some Boeing aircraft was IRAD (which branched off the OSD Boeing-GA-ASI partnership for the 300kW laser) and so is the current F-15 proposal

I don't remember exact internal program names but GA folks highlighted internal investments they made that positioned them on HELLADS and other similar efforts towards SWaP optimized HEL's. I have been hearing this from them since at least 2013.

 

[CJohnston]

I don't remember exact internal program names but GA folks highlighted internal investments they made that positioned them on HELLADS and other similar efforts towards SWaP optimized HEL's. I have been hearing this from them since at least 2013.

Okay yeah, that makes more sense. Most of their work on airborne lasers has been for SWaP optimization (like the aforementioned 250kW airborne laser with Boeing).

Doing a cursory look it seems like the MQ-9's laser has been in development for at least several years with IRAD funding. A report in 2021 mentioned a similar setup to the one under contract for the USAF and USMC now. It's a similar (if not identical) setup to their current program which is no longer running on IRAD funds.

Testing is supposed to start this year so I guess now it's just the waiting game to see if there are any actual announcements about it.

Appreciate the info

 

[bring_it_on]

Testing is supposed to start this year so I guess now it's just the waiting game to see if there are any actual announcements about it.

Perhaps I'm just getting old but "we'll be testing it out this summer / fall / later in the winter..." has also been a very consistent theme from them in the last decade.

Again, when they actually deliver things or show actual test footage, I will believe them. Looks like a PR stunt to me.

 

[CJohnston]

Perhaps I'm just getting old but "we'll be testing it out this summer / fall / later in the winter..." has also been a very consistent theme from them in the last decade.

Again, when they actually deliver things or show actual test footage, I will believe them. Looks like a PR stunt to me.

Scott is usually good to us when it comes to stuff like this (operative word: usually), so I'll take your word for it

You've been in the game longer than me hahahah

 

[bring_it_on]

Given the rate at which the Houthis are shooting down their drones...repurposing them for CUAS might be an effective pitch so they might pull something like this off like a fielding a 25-30kW airborne HEL say in the next 10-15 years.

 

[Forest Green]

Here's Your First Look at the Army's Laser-Armed Infantry Squad Vehicle

The Army Multi-Purpose High Energy Laser (AMP-HEL) breaks cover.

laserwars.substack.com

 

[publiusr]

A steady beam

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-hours-lasing-laser-cooled-strontium.html

 

[Forest Green]

NIKE laser realigns mission to support US nuclear deterrence goals

Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 06, 2025 - The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has repositioned its NIKE laser-target facility to directly support the Department of Defense's nuclear strategy, leveraging its advanced capabilities to str

www.spacewar.com

 

[publiusr]

"Small-scale laser systems enable high energy proton accelerator on a table top."

Small-scale laser systems enable high energy proton accelerator on a table-top

Laser ion acceleration uses intense laser flashes to heat electrons of a solid to enormous temperatures and propel these charged particles to extreme speeds. These have recently gained traction for applications in selectively destroying cancerous tumor cells, in processing semiconductor...

phys.org

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/apollon-france-just-fired-the-strongest-laser-on-earth.46274/

Today's phys.org....the study from Tata University (?)

--also from there--"Researchers uncover a mechanism enabling glasses to self-regulate their brittleness."

Researchers uncover a mechanism enabling glasses to self-regulate their brittleness

Materials with self-adaptive mechanical responses have long been sought after in material science. Using computer simulations, researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, now show how such adaptive behavior can emerge in active glasses, which are widely used as...

phys.org

Optics

Bimodal video imaging platform predicts hyperspectral frames from RGB video

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI), or imaging spectroscopy, captures detailed information across the electromagnetic spectrum by acquiring a spectrum for each pixel in an image. This enables precise identification of materials through their spectral signatures.

phys.org

Infrared contact lenses allow people to see in the dark, even with their eyes closed

Neuroscientists and materials scientists have created contact lenses that enable infrared vision in both humans and mice by converting infrared light into visible light. Unlike infrared night vision goggles, the contact lenses, described in the journal Cell, do not require a power source—and...

phys.org

'Squeezed' infrared light travels farther and covers more wavelengths with thin films

Researchers have improved upon techniques that use thin films to compress infrared light, demonstrating three advantages that make the films more useful for practical applications. The researchers have proven that the "squeezed" infrared light can propagate at least four times farther than...

phys.org

Photon manipulation near absolute zero: New record for processing individual light particles

Scientists at Paderborn University have made a further step forward in the field of quantum research: for the first time ever, they have demonstrated a cryogenic circuit (i.e. one that operates in extremely cold conditions) that allows light quanta—also known as photons—to be controlled more...

phys.org

A new electron microscopy technique reveals hydrogen storage processes in nanoscale

A research team from National Taiwan University has developed a new electron microscopy technique that enables sensitive atomic number (Z) measurements of samples. The technique, named atomic number electron microscopy (ZEM), is now used to observe hydrogen storage behavior and the associated...

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-photons-astrophysicist-ability-vast-cosmic.html

Chip-scale soliton microcombs reach femtosecond precision

Laser frequency combs are light sources that produce evenly spaced, sharp lines across the spectrum, resembling the teeth of a comb. They serve as precise rulers for measuring time and frequency, and have become essential tools in applications such as lidar, high-speed optical communications...

phys.org

Inorganic polycations induce widening of infrared transparency spectrum

As core components for generating coherent tunable radiation sources in all-solid-state lasers, second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals have demonstrated significant technical advantages in many fields. Metal chalcogenides with tetrahedral cluster (Tn) as the structural unit are regarded...

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2025-05-shortwave-earth.html

A one-pixel camera for recording holographic movies

A new camera setup can record three-dimensional movies with a single pixel. Moreover, the technique can obtain images outside the visible spectrum and even through tissues. The Kobe University development thus opens the door to holographic video microscopy.

phys.org

Scan tech

From thin to bulk: Affordable, brighter and faster scanning with high-energy radiation sources

Imagine a medical scanner that works faster and produces clearer images, or a radiation detector that pinpoints tiny traces of radioactive material with unprecedented accuracy. These futuristic possibilities are a step closer to reality thanks to new research by scientists at the Łukasiewicz...

phys.org

The US has a new most-powerful laser

The ZEUS laser facility at the University of Michigan has roughly doubled the peak power of any other laser in the U.S. with its first official experiment at 2 petawatts (2 quadrillion watts).

phys.org

3D-printed microlaser sensors offer supercharged biosensing

Researchers have developed a 3D micro-printed sensor for highly sensitive on-chip biosensing. The sensor, which is based on a polymer whispering-gallery-mode microlaser, opens new opportunities for developing high-performance, cost-effective lab-on-a-chip devices for early disease diagnosis.

phys.org

Dual-laser technique lowers Brillouin sensing frequency to 200 MHz

Scientists have developed a dual-laser Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR) system that uses two frequency-modulated lasers. By scanning the relative modulation phase between the pump and reference lasers, the setup measures strain and temperature all along an optical...

phys.org

Compact accelerator design decreases emittance for an even brighter beam

Researchers at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science user facility at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory, depend on the facility's bright, stable electron beam to carry out groundbreaking experiments. Behind the scenes, a...

phys.org

Novel imaging technology eliminates need for costly ultrafast lasers

A research team affiliated with UNIST has announced the development of an innovative nonlinear imaging technique capable of visualizing internal biological tissues in 3D using ordinary light sources, such as laser pointers, instead of costly ultrafast pulsed lasers.

phys.org

Astronomy trick enables researchers to capture high-speed, 4D videos of moving organisms

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a computational imaging system that borrows techniques from astronomy to reconstruct 4D videos of freely moving small model organisms, like zebrafish and fruit fly larvae. By using a concave mirror and an array of sensors, researchers were...

phys.org

MRI gets a nano-sized upgrade

Conventional MRI scans, familiar to us from hospitals, have a resolution of about one-tenth of a millimeter, which allows them to image incredibly thin slices of our bodies from head to toe, helping physicians diagnose a variety of medical conditions. Even this ultra-high resolution, however, is...

phys.org

Flexible imager that's thinner than an eyelash can capture brain activity

Researchers have developed an extremely thin, flexible imager that could be useful for noninvasively acquiring images from inside the body. The new technology could one day enable early and precise disease detection, providing critical insights to guide timely and effective treatment.

phys.org

Novel data streaming software chases light speed from accelerator to supercomputer

Analyzing massive datasets from nuclear physics experiments can take hours or days to process, but researchers are working to radically reduce that time to mere seconds using special software being developed at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley and Oak Ridge national laboratories.

phys.org

Australian researchers use a quantum computer to simulate how real molecules behave

When a molecule absorbs light, it undergoes a whirlwind of quantum-mechanical transformations. Electrons jump between energy levels, atoms vibrate, and chemical bonds shift—all within millionths of a billionth of a second.

phys.org

Quanta image sensors brings bioluminescent signals into sharper focus

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich and the Technical University of Munich have developed a new microscope that significantly improves how bioluminescent signals in living cells can be observed.

phys.org

Ultrathin resonators set new standard for efficient light manipulation

In the nanometer range (billionth of a meter), interactions occur between light and matter that do not happen on larger scales. As such, so-called nanophotonic materials have unique optical properties that open up a whole range of technical possibilities.

phys.org

Twisting light for memory: New chiral photonic device enables real-time control of light polarization and data storage

As fast as modern electronics have become, they could be much faster if their operations were based on light, rather than electricity. Fiber optic cables already transport information at the speed of light; to do computations on that information without translating it back to electric signals...

phys.org

Secure encryption and decryption with luminescent perovskites

To guarantee high data security, encryption must be unbreakable while the data remains rapidly and easily readable. A novel strategy for optical encryption/decryption of information has now been introduced in the journal Angewandte Chemie by a Chinese research team. It is based on compounds with...

techxplore.com

Single-layer waveguide display uses achromatic metagratings for more compact augmented reality eyewear

Augmented reality (AR), the technology that overlays digital content onto what users see around them in real-time, is now widely used in the retail, gaming and entertainment industries, as well as in some educational settings and learning environments. A key component of AR systems are so-called...

phys.org

Solitonic superfluorescence paves way for high-temperature quantum materials

A study in Nature describes both the mechanism and the material conditions necessary for superfluorescence at room temperature. The work could serve as a blueprint for designing materials that allow exotic quantum states—such as superconductivity, superfluidity or superfluorescence—at high...

phys.org

3D structure of key membrane repair proteins revealed by cryo-electron microscopy

Researchers from the Göttingen Cluster of Excellence Multiscale Bioimaging (MBExC) have uncovered the 3D structure of the membrane proteins myoferlin and dysferlin using high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy.

phys.org

2D quantum sensor uses spin defects for precise magnetic field detection

A team of physicists at the University of Cambridge has unveiled a breakthrough in quantum sensing by demonstrating the use of spin defects in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) as powerful, room-temperature sensors capable of detecting vectorial magnetic fields at the nanoscale. The findings...

phys.org

High-resolution metalens doublet microscope enables compact biomedical imaging

Metalenses represent a revolutionary advancement in optical technology. Unlike conventional microscope objectives that rely on curved glass surfaces, metalenses employ nanoscale structures to manipulate light at the subwavelength level. Thanks to their ultrathin, lightweight, and flat...

phys.org

A new method to generate muons with ultra-short high-intensity lasers

Muons are elementary particles that resemble electrons, but they are heavier and decay very rapidly (i.e., in just a few microseconds). Studying muons can help to test and refine the standard of particle physics, while also potentially unveiling new phenomena or effects.

phys.org

Ballistic electrons chart a new course for next-gen terahertz devices

In a world increasingly driven by high-speed communication and low-power electronics, a team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) has proposed a fundamentally new way of manipulating light using the geometry of...

phys.org

Spontaneous symmetry breaking in electron systems proves elusive

Tiny strains in a crystal can cause electrons to behave in a surprising way that closely resembles a highly sought-after mechanism, RIKEN physicists have found in a new study. Previous studies may need to be re-evaluated in light of this finding.

phys.org

Analytical model clarifies exciton dynamics to improve OLED efficiency and lifespan

Organic light emitting diodes, or OLEDs, are a type of photoluminescence device that utilizes organic compounds to produce light. Compared to traditional LEDs, OLEDs have shown to be more efficient, can be built into super-thin and flexible materials, and have higher dynamic range in image...

phys.org

Street view

Researchers use AI to 'see' beyond a structure's facade in Google Street View

Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a method that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and Google Maps' Street View images to glean more detailed information about buildings—such as their age and floor area.

techxplore.com

Sobering

Color-changing sensor detects alcohol with a smartphone snap

Determining how strong your drink is doesn't need to be either guesswork or lab work. New research has made it as simple as checking your messages—and more colorful, too. The study is published in the journal Small Science.

phys.org

Article on lasers

The Laser Revolution Part I: Megawatt beams to the skies

A blog dedicated to helping Science Fiction authors create and discuss worlds where a realistic setting can still serve the fiction.

toughsf.blogspot.com

 

[shin_getter]

https://www.idf.il/297009

Translated quotes:

During the 'Iron Swords' war, the Ministry of Defense's Directorate of Defense, the Air Force and Rafael led an accelerated development process for the operation of new laser interception systems, in which the Defense Directorate's fighters intercepted dozens of enemy targets.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtDXCRDQ76Q

 

[Forest Green]

Israel's Iron Beam has downed drones for the first time.

Israel's Iron Beam Laser Air Defense System Has Downed Enemy Drones

The high-power laser is the latest addition to Israel’s densely-layered air and missile defense array. The high-power laser is the latest addition to Israel’s multi-layered air defense array and has reportedly been used in combat.

www.twz.com

 

[muttbutt]

TECHNOLOGY: Italy to Lead EU Project to Develop Mobile Laser Weapon Systems for Air Defense

TECHNOLOGY: Italy to Lead EU Project to Develop Mobile Laser Weapon Systems for Air Defense

armyrecognition.com

 

[dannydale]

https://toughsf.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-laser-revolution-part-ii-ground-sea.html?m=1 Part 2

 

[publiusr]

Lasers for scanning

New high-resolution laser device reads millimeter-scale text from a mile away

You are the protagonist in a thriller. One morning, an unknown caller with a distorted voice says, "To save your city, solve the puzzle. Go to the coordinates. X marks the clue." You rush to the spot and see an X on a distant billboard, too far to read. Your vision is sharp, but not that sharp...

phys.org

According to the study published in Physical Review Letters, the developed setup includes multiple laser emitters that enable super-resolution imaging of targets as small as millimeters in scale from a 1.36 kilometers (0.85 miles) distance in an outdoor urban environment. The device successfully images letter-shaped physical targets measuring 8×9 mm, with letter widths of 1.5 mm, placed at the far end of its imaging range.

I guess you could say it is...phased?

New technique turns 'noisy' lasers into quantum light

Scientists have discovered a way to convert fluctuating lasers into remarkably stable beams that defy classical physics, opening new doors for photonic technologies that rely on both high power and high precision.

phys.org

Scientists have discovered a way to convert fluctuating lasers into remarkably stable beams that defy classical physics, opening new doors for photonic technologies that rely on both high power and high precision.

Display

Ultra-thin display technology shows dozens of images hidden in a single screen

From smartphones and TVs to credit cards, technologies that manipulate light are deeply embedded in our daily lives, many of which are based on holography. However, conventional holographic technologies have faced limitations, particularly in displaying multiple images on a single screen and in...

techxplore.com

Recently, a research team led by Professor Junsuk Rho at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology) has developed a groundbreaking metasurface technology that can display up to 36 high-resolution images on a surface thinner than a human hair. This research has been published in Advanced Science.

Vortex beams

New method enables flexible generation of high-order vector vortex beams

A research team led by Associate Prof. Wang Anting from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) proposed a method for multidimensional manipulation of polarization and phase based on a single geometric phase element. They managed to...

phys.org

 

[dannydale]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBVlL0FNbSE
And now we have civilians building strong lasers.

 

[publiusr]

Lasers and optics

New laser smaller than a penny can measure objects at ultrafast rates

Researchers from the University of Rochester and University of California, Santa Barbara, engineered a laser device smaller than a penny that they say could power everything from the LiDAR systems used in self-driving vehicles to gravitational wave detection, one of the most delicate experiments...

phys.org

Tabletop particle blaster: How tiny nozzles and lasers could replace giant accelerators

Proton beams with giga-electron-volt (GeV) energies—once thought to be achievable only with massive particle accelerators—may soon be generated in compact setups thanks to a breakthrough by researchers at The University of Osaka.

phys.org

Self-powered artificial synapse mimics human color vision

As artificial intelligence and smart devices continue to evolve, machine vision is taking an increasingly pivotal role as a key enabler of modern technologies. Unfortunately, despite much progress, machine vision systems still face a major problem: Processing the enormous amounts of visual data...

techxplore.com

Brain-inspired vision sensor enhances object outline extraction in varying lighting conditions

A novel vision sensor inspired by the neural transmission mechanisms of the human brain has been developed to efficiently and accurately extract object outlines even under fluctuating lighting environments. This advancement promises to significantly enhance perception capabilities in autonomous...

techxplore.com

Chain-of-Zoom framework enables extreme super-resolution zoom without retraining

A trio of AI researchers at KAIST AI, in Korea, has developed what they call a Chain-of-Zoom framework that allows the generation of extreme super-resolution imagery using existing super-resolution models without the need for retraining.

techxplore.com

An active optical intensity interferometry scheme enables synthetic aperture imaging from over a kilometer away

Intensity interferometry is a promising technique that enables the precise measurement of spatial properties (i.e., distances, shapes and light properties) by probing fluctuations in the intensity (i.e., brightness) of light, as opposed to the exact timing and phase of light waves probed by...

techxplore.com

'In-insect synthesis': Caterpillar factories produce fluorescent nanocarbons

Researchers led by Kenichiro Itami at the RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) / RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have successfully used insects as mini molecule-making factories, marking a breakthrough in chemical engineering.

phys.org

Physicists recreate extreme quantum vacuum effects

Using advanced computational modeling, a research team led by the University of Oxford, working in partnership with the Instituto Superior Técnico at the University of Lisbon, has achieved the first-ever real-time, three-dimensional simulations of how intense laser beams alter the "quantum...

phys.org

A semi-automated manufacturing process for cost-efficient quantum cascade laser modules

Resonantly tunable quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are high-performance laser light sources for a wide range of spectroscopy applications in the mid-infrared (MIR) range. Their high brilliance enables minimal measurement times for more precise and efficient characterization processes and can be...

phys.org

A ceiling full of beams: How light is replacing Wi-Fi indoors

Connectivity is no longer a luxury—it is the backbone of how we live, work and move through the world. From smart homes to wearable tech, we rely on strong, seamless wireless networks. But with traditional radio frequency systems like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth reaching their limits in spectrum and...

techxplore.com

Polymer waveguides show promise for reliable, high-capacity optical communication

Co-packaged optics (CPO) technology can integrate photonic integrated circuits (PICs) with electronic integrated circuits (EICs) like CPUs and GPUs on a single platform. This advanced technology has immense potential to improve data transmission efficiency within data centers and...

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-mxene-coated-lenses-safer-smarter.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-ai-algorithms-approach-theoretical-limit.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-ultra-thin-lenses-halve-incident.html

 

[publiusr]

Light…controlled

Nonreciprocal light speed control achieved using cavity magnonics device

The reliable manipulation of the speed at which light travels through objects could have valuable implications for the development of various advanced technologies, including high-speed communication systems and quantum information processing devices. Conventional methods for manipulating the...

phys.org

Crystals and optics

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-symmetrical-crystals-absorb-asymmetrically-discovery.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-quantum-mechanical-quasicrystals-reveals.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-scientists-precision-quantum-defects-diamond.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-crystal-strategy-yields-brighter-longer.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-gyromagnetic-index-metamaterials-enable-stable.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-shifting-hybrid-materials-bright-future.html

A semi-automated manufacturing process for cost-efficient quantum cascade laser modules

Resonantly tunable quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) are high-performance laser light sources for a wide range of spectroscopy applications in the mid-infrared (MIR) range. Their high brilliance enables minimal measurement times for more precise and efficient characterization processes and can be...

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-surface-emitting-laser-quantum-dots.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-terahertz-polarimetry-microscopic-tissue-linked.html

Images

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-ai-technology-reconstructs-3d-interactions.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-kirigami-enables-uniform-multi-pixel.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-hours-ai-generated-mask.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-explores-visual-media-lens-machine.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-multi-modal-ai-agent-mimics.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-vision-language-gain-spatial-skills.html

Tricorder

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-high-resolution-spectrometer-smartphones.html

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-portable-device-rare-mutations.html

 

[exclaimedleech8]

I think the laser may turn out to be the most important technology of the 21st century.

 

[Grey Havoc]

I think the laser may turn out to be the most important technology of the 21st century.

In many ways it was already one of the most important technologies of the 20th Century.

 

[exclaimedleech8]

In many ways it was already one of the most important technologies of the 20th Century.

But we ain't seen nothing yet.

 

[Forest Green]

MDA grows research project to advance pulsed laser to nearly $50 million in Rochester​

MDA grows research project to advance pulsed laser to nearly $50 million in Rochester | InsideDefense.com

The Missile Defense Agency has awarded a $35 million contract modification to the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) in an effort to advance work on a breakthrough speed-of-light weapon and draft a Pulsed Laser Roadmap, pushing the total value of the research effort...

insidedefense.com

 

[bcredman]

MDA grows research project to advance pulsed laser to nearly $50 million in Rochester​

MDA grows research project to advance pulsed laser to nearly $50 million in Rochester | InsideDefense.com

The Missile Defense Agency has awarded a $35 million contract modification to the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) in an effort to advance work on a breakthrough speed-of-light weapon and draft a Pulsed Laser Roadmap, pushing the total value of the research effort...

insidedefense.com

This is a data collection effort to support pulsed laser lethality modeling and simulation according to https://www.highergov.com/contract-...er-laborator-hq0860-23-c-6000-p00006-s-fc4e6/ which states "Under this modification, the contractor will define and conduct tests to collect anchoring data to benchmark/verify physics-based pulsed laser lethality modeling. Models, simulations, and lethality toolsets developed shall support analysis against a variety of DoD threats and across ground, sea, air and space domains. Upon Government direction, models of relevant threats and threat support systems shall be combined with trajectories to inform a full continuity lethality and military utility picture. The work will be performed in Rochester, New York. The period of performance is from May 31, 2023 through May 30 2028."

 

[publiusr]

High power

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-machine-ease-jitters-high-power.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-klystron-technology-future-energy-efficient.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-scientists-shortest-hard-ray-pulses.html

Next leap in mode-locked lasers: Tunable pulse duration in ultranarrow bandwidth

Lasers have widespread applications as a light source in a variety of fields, including manufacturing, medicine, high-speed communications, electronics, and scientific research.

phys.org

Improved laser frequency stabilization achieved with unprecedented long optical reference cavity

Scientists at NPL recently published findings on laser frequency stabilization, demonstrating an unprecedented level of performance using an optical reference cavity. This advancement features a beyond state-of-the-art optical storage time and a novel approach to actively cancel spurious...

phys.org

I can see through your head

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-scientists-entire-human-doors-brain.html

Seeing through fog

Seeing clearly through thick fog: Researchers develop ultra-low noise, high sensitivity photodetector

Technologies enabling safe visual recognition in low-visibility environments are gaining increasing attention across sectors such as autonomous driving, aviation, and smart transportation. Thick fog remains a major challenge on highways, mountainous roads, and airport runways, where vision-based...

techxplore.com

https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.202503868

Optics

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-universal-framework-enables-custom-3d.html

New method enables scientists to surpass the resolution limit of fluorescence microscopy

Imagine you're sitting at a pond, listening to the din of croaking frogs. You want to know how many frogs are in the pond, but you can't pick out the individual croaks—only the combined sound rising and falling in volume as frogs start and stop communicating.

phys.org

New nano-based filter for infrared light promises cheap, robust spectrometers

A new filter for infrared light could see scanning and screening technology tumble in price and size. Built on nanotechnology, the new heat-tunable filter promises hand-held, robust technology to replace current desktop infrared spectroscopy setups that are bulky, heavy and cost from $10,000 up...

phys.org

Perovskite-based image sensors promise higher sensitivity and resolution than silicon

Image sensors are built into every smartphone and every digital camera. They distinguish colors in a similar way to the human eye. In our retinas, individual cone cells recognize red, green and blue (RGB). In image sensors, individual pixels absorb the corresponding wavelengths and convert them...

techxplore.com

small accelerator

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-wafer-scale-redefine-ai.html

lighting

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-sustainable-manganese-based-phosphors-white.html

 

[TomcatViP]

DARPA set a new Laser power transmission stepstone with a series of test designed to replicate operational systems:

recent tests in New Mexico [set] new records. Previously, the POWER system managed to use a laser to beam 230 watts across one mile (1.7 km) for 25 seconds, and an undisclosed lesser amount of power as far as 2.3 miles (3.7 km). Now, DARPA has managed to increase this to 800 watts for 30 seconds at a distance of 5.3 miles (8.6 km).
[...]
The system is built around what is called the Power Receiver Array Demo (PRAD), which is a ball-like structure that has a compact aperture to allow a laser beam to enter. This beam strikes a parabolic mirror that scatters the light and shines it on an array of dozens of photovoltaic calls. These convert the laser light back into electricity.

At the moment, DARA is concentrating on power and distance, so the present efficiency of the system being a mere 20% is acceptable, though there are plans to improve this as the technology is scaled up.

DARPA sets new records for sending power wirelessly

Looking forward to a future where laser beams replace power lines, DAPRA's Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program has set new records for transmitting more power wirelessly over longer distances.

newatlas.com

 

[Cordy]

UK buying two short range (4-5 km?) DragonFire 50kw lasers for £200 million / $270 million for Royal Navy.

At these prices lasers would appear unaffordable.

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029984-2025

The US Navy contracted Lockheed in 2018 for the semi-equivalent HELIOS 60kw laser, one was fitted to the Burke USS Preble for trials in 2024, as far as know it was the only one installed on a Burke. The Navy is replacing the Phalanx ~ 1.5km CIWS on Burkes with RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) ~10-15km, either with the MK 49 (21 cell) or SeaRAM (11 cell).

Adm. Daryl Caudle, US Fleet Forces Commander said at SNA 2025 the Navy should be “embarrassed” by the fact it hasn’t managed yet to scale directed energy weapons onboard its ships despite having experimented with the technology since the Reagan administration, but we’ve not transitioned that into a place where that’s an acceptable way to actually take out missile systems, we just haven’t really matriculated that into a place … that’s ready for prime time.

State of Navy's shipboard laser efforts is embarrassing, says top fleet commander - Breaking Defense

 

[exclaimedleech8]

Ever since the shield was invented in response to the sword, every kind of offensive weapon has spawned some form of defense. So, how will lasers be countered?

 

[bring_it_on]

Adm. Daryl Caudle, US Fleet Forces Commander said at SNA 2025 the Navy should be “embarrassed” by the fact it hasn’t managed yet to scale directed energy weapons onboard its ships despite having experimented with the technology since the Reagan administration, but we’ve not transitioned that into a place where that’s an acceptable way to actually take out missile systems, we just haven’t really matriculated that into a place … that’s ready for prime time.

The ships don't have great SwAP margins and the ships that do (DDG-1000) have other priorities and are too few to begin with. If you aren't going to get the 100kW class (60kW throttled on DDG-51) HELIOS on the Flight III DDG-51 (which looks tough given power and thermal margins consumed by the radar and EW) and FFGX then 'adopting' HEL's on surface ships is basically not going to happen at scale until DDG(X) arrives 10-15 years from now. By that time the SOTA would be in the 300-500kW class so that is probably what needs to go on DDG(X) though I'm not sure the Navy is in a position to push for that aggressive an adoption on flight 1 DDG(X).

The 'mature design / mature tech' advantage of the Flight III also has drawbacks in that the ship is basically maxed out from day 1.

Land based 20-300kW systems can possibly begin proliferating across US forces this decade. HII is already building the 30kW production designs for the Army's cUAS roles. If IFPC HEL works, LM can do the same for the larger 300kW class systems. It may make sense to field those 30kW systems in palletized forms aboard ships deploying to areas where the small UAS threat is significant. That is probably easier to scale than trying to do ship mods and full CS integrations.

 

[Cordy]

Captain Mark Vandroff who was Program Manager for Burkes said back in 2016 that the Flight IIA max load was just over 4MW and with two of its three of its GT 3MW generators, which Navy always keep running in case load ever exceeds 3MW as it take time to sync with bus even though load could be well below that of a single generator, makes it expensive in fuel consumption - net max output of the two running 3MW generators is 5.8MW (Burkes 3rd generator always kept as reserve). So approx. 1.5MW margin so no shortage of power for lasers though unknown how much power would be remaining for any Burkes IIA converted to Mod 2 status with SPY-6(V)4 and SEWIP Block 3.

 

[exclaimedleech8]

China claims to have developed a 2.47 kw laser capable of operating in a wide variety of temperatures without climate control systems. They say it can destroy a target a kilometer away.

China's new 2.47kW portable laser works in Arctic cold, Saharan desert

The laser beams enough power to disable drones and cut through several kinds of materials from over 0.62 miles (1 km) away.

interestingengineering.com

 

[Training_Dummy]

China claims to have developed a 2.47 kw laser capable of operating in a wide variety of temperatures without climate control systems. They say it can destroy a target a kilometer away.

China's new 2.47kW portable laser works in Arctic cold, Saharan desert

The laser beams enough power to disable drones and cut through several kinds of materials from over 0.62 miles (1 km) away.

interestingengineering.com

That seems disruptive.

 

[exclaimedleech8]

That seems disruptive.

Assuming that it's true, yes

 

[Forest Green]

I have a kettle more powerful than that.

 

[exclaimedleech8]

I have a kettle more powerful than that.

But your kettle doesn't concentrate its power in a super narrow beam.

 

[Forest Green]

But your kettle doesn't concentrate its power in a super narrow beam.

Wouldn't be a great weapon even if it did. Pigeon deterrent at best.

 

[exclaimedleech8]

Affordable laser could be mass-produced for use in self-driving cars and fiber optics

Laser technology is used in many areas, where precise measurements are required and in communication. This means that they are important for everything from self-driving cars to the fiber optic internet and for detecting gases in the air.

phys.org

 

[exclaimedleech8]

Here's a prediction from 1966 of how lasers might be used in the home.

 

[publiusr]

Affordable laser could be mass-produced for use in self-driving cars and fiber optics

Laser technology is used in many areas, where precise measurements are required and in communication. This means that they are important for everything from self-driving cars to the fiber optic internet and for detecting gases in the air.

phys.org

That is a bit worrisome:

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lwTXtG9v4L0

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64781017/ex90-lidar-iphone-16-pro-max-sensor/

I wonder if some of these landers are vulnerable to super-reflective bits in the lunar regolith.

Glass nanostructures reflect nearly all visible light, challenging photonics assumptions

A research team led by SUTD has created nanoscale glass structures with near-perfect reflectance, overturning long-held assumptions about what low-index materials can do in photonics.

phys.org

masers and lasers

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-room-temperature-maser-technology.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-tuned-laser-quantum-noise.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-room-temperature-lasing-photonic-crystal.html

https://www.science.org/content/article/these-tiny-lasers-are-completely-edible

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/lasers-in-food-no-not-lasers-on-food.47042/

Plasma

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-physicists-image-rotation-plasma.html

Proton beam

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-chain-magnets-proton-range-energies.html

electricity control

Scientists find new way to control electricity at tiniest scale

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have uncovered how to manipulate electrical flow through crystalline silicon, a material at the heart of modern technology. The discovery could lead to smaller, faster, and more efficient devices by harnessing quantum electron behavior.

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-material-emits-infrared-absorbs-violating.html

On lasers and optics

Semiconductor nanolasers enable ultra-efficient optical technologies

A new wave of innovation is transforming the future of optical technologies, driven by rapid advancements in semiconductor nanolasers. These advances are essential for future applications such as on-chip optical communication and neuromorphic computing, which require compact, energy-efficient...

phys.org

New laser power converters can transmit power to further, remote destinations

From smart grids to the internet of things, the modern world is increasingly reliant on connectivity between electronic devices. Thanks to University of Ottawa researchers, these devices can now be simultaneously connected and powered with a simple optical fiber over long distances, even in the...

techxplore.com

Scientists develop new technique for capturing ultra-intense laser pulses in a single shot

Scientists at the University of Oxford have unveiled a pioneering method for capturing the full structure of ultra-intense laser pulses in a single measurement. The breakthrough, published in close collaboration with Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich and the Max Planck Institute for Quantum...

phys.org

How harmonic mode-locked Mamyshev oscillators build up multiple laser pulses per cycle

The Mamyshev oscillator (MO) is a type of fiber laser capable of producing high-energy laser pulses at a tunable repetition rate. It is a mode-locked laser which uses light traveling within a closed-loop cavity to produce laser emission. Harmonic mode-locking (HML) is an advanced form of...

phys.org

Sensitive yet tough photonic devices are now a reality

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have achieved a long-sought milestone in photonics: creating tiny optical devices that are both highly sensitive and durable—two qualities that have long been considered fundamentally incompatible.

phys.org

Researchers demonstrate giant photonic isolation and gyration

Researchers from the Illinois Grainger College of Engineering are the first to demonstrate a simple and tunable method for realizing asymmetric couplings in integrated photonics. Their findings, published in Physical Review Letters and selected as an Editor's Pick, provide insight into...

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-pathways-previously-thought-optical-topological.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-nanometer-thin-spacer-boosts-blue.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-scientists-illuminating-biosensor.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-terahertz-blood-sodium-needles.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-tunable-laser-telecom-medicine.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-pathways-previously-thought-optical-topological.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-lasers-common-herbicides-zapping-east.html

Vacuum fluctuations in optical cavities reveal hidden properties of embedded materials

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter (MPSD) have theoretically demonstrated that photons trapped inside an optical cavity carry detailed information about a material placed within it. By measuring the properties of the photons leaking out of the...

phys.org

https://techxplore.com/news/2025-06-soft-approach-advances-nondestructive-micro.html

X-Ray lens and electrons

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-wafer-lens-ray-size.html

Using only a single-crystal piezoelectric thin wafer of lithium niobate (LN) instead of the usual two-part structure, a group from Nagoya University in Japan has created a deformable mirror that changes X-ray beam size by more than 3,400 times. This improved tuning range enhances both imaging and analysis, especially for the X-rays used in industry.

https://phys.org/news/2025-06-tiny-collider-electrons-strong-interactions.html

https://phys.org/news/2025-07-tunneling-electrons-alternative-quantum-mechanics.html

 

[TomcatViP]

Chinese military Vessel lasered German Maritime Patrol Aircraft in the red sea:

The surveillance aircraft was part of the EU mission Aspides, which is intended to better defend civilian ships against attacks by Houthi rebels based in Yemen. It was lasered earlier this month “without any reason or prior contact” by a Chinese warship that had been encountered several times in the area, the German Defense Ministry said.

Germany summons China's ambassador after a plane is lasered over Red Sea

Germany has summoned the Chinese ambassador after a Chinese warship targeted a German aircraft with a laser in the Red Sea.

apnews.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

Chinese military Vessel lasered German Maritime Patrol Aircraft in the red sea:

Germany summons China's ambassador after a plane is lasered over Red Sea

Germany has summoned the Chinese ambassador after a Chinese warship targeted a German aircraft with a laser in the Red Sea.

apnews.com

China reacts to laser accusation by US's NATO ally

The Chinese military is accused of disrupting an aircraft during an operation.

www.newsweek.com