Lasers used in Iraq and Afghanistan

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Lasers in combat? That used to happen only in "star wars" but not any more.

That cute essential little laser diode in your DVD drive/printer/PS3 etc has been put to more dynamic uses. Such as being used in trouble spots such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Liverpool.

This article gives full details on their use.

http://ezinearticles.com/index.php?...-Saving-Military-And-Civilian-Lives&id=511755
 
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Weird article. What does this bit mean?

These high powered laser pointers are commercially available and are normally purchased by military personnel and their families online. In situations when lives are at stake, it is essential for the laser pointer to be effective. An effective laser pointer should be high power (at least 75mW), high quality components and have out standing beam specifications. Lives could easily be lost if poor quality, low power shoddy laser pointers were used.

What? Even a 500mW laser is not going to kill anyone (it can certainly blind someone easily). These lasers are mainly going to be used for scare tactics, working only on the ignorant or unsophisticated. So what difference will it make if the laser if 5mW or 500mW? Even a 5mW beam is seen well in the dark of night (via Rayleigh scattering).

Even the operator's life is not in any danger from a poorly constructed laser with a divergent beam and significant IR-leak through (from the pump laser). Eyesight might certainly be at risk, but not life.

BTW, I have personal experience with these "pointers", having recently got a 200mW ClassIIIb 532 nm (green) one. It can burn garbage bags and electrical tape and can singe skin within a couple of seconds, but it's hardly a serious deterrent. The only way it can help in a crunch is if I use it to dazzle an opponent or assailant with a direct hit to an eye (which will also leave him with retinal damage).

A taser or even a can of pepper spray would make for a better deterrent.
 
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Bricky said:
That cute essential little laser diode in your DVD drive/printer/PS3 etc has been put to more dynamic uses. Such as being used in trouble spots such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Liverpool.

Liverpool? :bugeye: