Lasers on the battlefield?

[XMEN Ashaman DTM]

<!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.oaklandtribune.com/cda/artic ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br><br>It seems that solid-state lasers are becoming the ideal way to weaponize lasers. Almost all of the hi-powered lasers today are gas-lasers, relying on the interactions between gases to produce a lasing effect. One way to do this is to "pump" flourine atoms by radiating them with some sort of electromagnetic energy source (microwaves), then letting them bump into other atoms (or exchange photons with them) such as oxygen.<br>Laser systems more suited to the rigors of warfare would be solid state lasers which consist of a solid material (such as quartz, ruby, or whatever), and a pumping source (such as a flashlamp or radio antenna).<br> <p></p><i></i>