The Laser as a Weapon

Abstract

The laser beam is popularly thought of as a very powerful death ray which can be fired from a hand-held laser gun to vaporize soldiers, demolish buildings, and burn through tanks. This is an immense exaggeration which has been fostered for years by science fiction literature and movies. In reality, the laser is a suitable tool for many nonmilitary purposes, and, while it may also be turned into a deadly weapon, there are definitely limitations to what a laser can do. Although many people still consider lasers as a sort of futuristic Flash Gordon weapon, some of these science fiction depictions have become partially true. The laser really is a ray weapon, and its light rays can damage some targets in a way that appeals to the most vivid imagination. It is important to take these somewhat speculative factors into consideration when studying the psychological effects of the use of laser weapons on the battlefield. Otherwise, it will not be possible to get a complete and realistic picture of what using a laser really means to the combatants.