Can a High Power Laser Melt a Prism and How to Make a Reflective Missile?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of high power lasers on prisms and the concept of creating a reflective missile. It explores the potential for melting glass with lasers and the challenges of missile reflectivity in defense scenarios.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that a high power laser can melt a prism if the absorbed light is sufficient to reach the glass's melting point.
  • Others note that defects in the glass can lead to overheating when exposed to high-powered lasers.
  • A historical reference is made to proposals for using lasers to intercept missiles, with concerns raised about the effectiveness of such systems due to the reflective nature of missiles.
  • Questions are posed about how to enhance a missile's reflectivity beyond that of a standard mirror.
  • One participant humorously suggests that simply attaching mirrors to the missile could achieve greater reflectivity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the feasibility of melting a prism with a laser and the effectiveness of reflective missiles, indicating that multiple competing ideas remain without consensus.

Contextual Notes

There are assumptions regarding the properties of glass and the effectiveness of lasers that are not fully explored, as well as unresolved questions about the practical implementation of reflective materials on missiles.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in optics, laser applications, missile defense technology, and materials science may find this discussion relevant.

cgardhar
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If we pass a really high power laser through a prism, is it possible that the prism melts down.
 
Science news on Phys.org
Yes - if the percentage of the light absorbed is enough to heat the glass to it's melting point then it will melt
 
If the glass has defects, whether factory-made or "home-made" (...), it can overheat. When using high-powered lasers on a daily basis as we do, we have to wipe off the dust of all optics before turning on the beam, so it doesn't age prematurely.

www.gentec-eo.com
 
Several decades ago (even before Reagan's star wars program) there was a proposal to shoot down incoming missiles with lasers from a satellite. Scientific American evaluated that proposal and showed that it could be easily defeated. The lasers would have to be guided by a movable mirror and if the missile was nearly as reflective as the mirror, the mirror would always be destroyed before the missile.
 
how does one make a missile more reflective than 'a mirror'? whose sole purpose is to be reflective?
 
benmww said:
how does one make a missile more reflective than 'a mirror'? whose sole purpose is to be reflective?
Put mirrors on the missile.
 

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