China unveils the largest crystal for high-powered laser weapons
The synthetic crystal, measuring 60 millimetres (2.3 inches) in diameter, efficiently converts short-wave infrared lasers into mid- to far-infrared beams that can penetrate atmospheric windows for long-distance transmission.
Crucially, it can withstand laser power as intense as 550 megawatts per square centimetre – exceeding the damage threshold of existing military-grade crystals by an order of magnitude.
The resulting laser frequency converter – measuring 10×10×50 mm (0.4x0.4x2 inches) – dwarfs conventional optics, typically limited to tiny and thin components.
'This represents the largest specimen reported globally to date,' wrote the research team led by Professor Wu Haixin in a peer-reviewed paper published in June by the Chinese-language Journal of Synthetic Crystals.
For decades, self-damage in laser weapons has crippled their power and range. The US Navy's 1997 MIRACL mid-infrared laser test, which accidentally melted its own components while targeting a satellite, underscored the challenge.
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