The Vulcan 20-20 will help scientists working on nuclear fusion, understanding plasma, new renewable energy sources and studying electromagnetic fields.

  • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.uk
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    9 months ago

    A single pulse from the laser will deliver more power than the entire National Grid, in a blast lasting a trillionth of a second on a minuscule target.

    It all sounds very impressive. I wonder how long it’ll take for them to start thinking about stuff they could stick in front of it. I did some training with guys who worked at nuclear reactors and they had an almost endless collection of stories things they put into the most radioactive places - the one that stuck with me was a gonk troll doll that slowly lost its fine mop of hair.

    • Blackmist@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      9 months ago

      Power of national grid = 30GW according to GridWatch.

      30,000,000,000W * 1/1,000,000,000,000s = 30mJ.

      Which doesn’t sound like a lot. It’s about the same energy as lifting 6 sheets of A4 paper one metre in the air.

    • Echo Dot@feddit.uk
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      9 months ago

      I was going to say someone is definitely going to try and write on the wall with it from the other side of a warehouse.