Gears and Gadgets: 500 Trillion Watt Laser Breaks Records!

Technology is always evolving, and sometimes it's hard to keep up.  Here at Gears and Gadgets, we'll discuss all the latest innovations in technology and science, and will give you links to people who know even more about the subject!


At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory they have just broken the record for the highest power laser shot with 192 beams firing at the same time.


The shot reached 500 trillion watts which is the equivalent of 1.85 megajoules. The laser fired at a target with the diameter of just 2 millimeters. 


The laser was fired at the National Ignition Facility and it's one step forward toward clean fusion energy. And this isn't the NIF's only accomplishment. They regularly produce lasers 100 times more powerful than other lasers. THEY TAKE THEIR LASER PRETTY SERIOUSLY. 


Richard Petrasso, the senior research scientist and division head of high energy density physics at a little school called MI-freaking-T said this about the record breaking laser:

"For scientists across the nation and the world who, like ourselves, are actively pursuing fundamental science under extreme conditions and the goal of laboratory fusion ignition, this is a remarkable and exciting achievement"

This laser was 12,500 times greater than the electricity used in 2006 by the Brits. That's crazy. 

I'm sure we will be taking leaps and bounds with new lasers with the NIF improving further with it's efforts.


If you would like to read more about the laser you can click here to do so. 


-Rachael The Ginger