Max Power of 1.3cm Diameter Laser Beam Propagating Air

[Linus Pauling]

1. The maximum electric field strength in air is 3.0 MV/m. Stronger electric fields ionize the air and create a spark. What is the maximum power that can be delivered by a 1.3 cm diameter laser beam propagating through air?



2. I = P/A = c*epsilon₀*E²/2



3. Using E = 3*10⁶ for E, I use the above equation to solve for I, obtaining 1.19*10^{10. Multiplying by area, using pi*r2} and r = 0.013m, I obtain 6.34*10⁶, which is incorrect.

 

[Matterwave]

the diameter is 1.3cm so the radius is only .0065m

 

[Linus Pauling]

****... thanks :(