Read Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon

Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon

Jeff Hecht

4.9/5 (32488 ratings)

Description:The whole story of laser weapons with a focus on its many interesting characters and sometimes bizarre schemesThe laser–a milestone invention of the mid-twentieth century–quickly captured the imagination of the Pentagon as the key to the ultimate weapon. Veteran science writer Jeff Hecht tells the inside story of the adventures and misadventures of scientists and military strategists as they exerted Herculean though often futile efforts to adapt the laser for military uses. From the 1950s’ sci-fi vision of the “death ray,” through the Reagan administration’s “Star Wars” missile defense system, to more promising developments today, Hecht provides an entertaining history. As the author illustrates, there has always been a great deal of enthusiasm and false starts surrounding lasers. He describes a giant laser that filled a Boeing 747, lasers powered like rocket engines, plans for an orbiting fleet of robotic laser battle stations to destroy nuclear missiles, claims that nuclear bombs could produce intense X-ray laser beams, and a scheme to bounce laser beams off giant orbiting relay mirrors. Those far-out ideas remain science fiction. Meanwhile, in civilian sectors, the laser is already being successfully used in fiber optic cables, scanners, medical devices, and industrial cutting tools. Now those laser cutting tools are leading to a new generation of laser weapons that just might stop insurgent rockets. Replete with interesting characters, bizarre schemes, and wonderful inventions, this is a well-told tale about the evolution of technology and the reaches of human ambition.We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon. To get started finding Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed.
Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented.

Pages: —

Format: PDF, EPUB & Kindle Edition

Publisher: —

Release: —

ISBN: 1633884600

Description: The whole story of laser weapons with a focus on its many interesting characters and sometimes bizarre schemesThe laser–a milestone invention of the mid-twentieth century–quickly captured the imagination of the Pentagon as the key to the ultimate weapon. Veteran science writer Jeff Hecht tells the inside story of the adventures and misadventures of scientists and military strategists as they exerted Herculean though often futile efforts to adapt the laser for military uses. From the 1950s’ sci-fi vision of the “death ray,” through the Reagan administration’s “Star Wars” missile defense system, to more promising developments today, Hecht provides an entertaining history. As the author illustrates, there has always been a great deal of enthusiasm and false starts surrounding lasers. He describes a giant laser that filled a Boeing 747, lasers powered like rocket engines, plans for an orbiting fleet of robotic laser battle stations to destroy nuclear missiles, claims that nuclear bombs could produce intense X-ray laser beams, and a scheme to bounce laser beams off giant orbiting relay mirrors. Those far-out ideas remain science fiction. Meanwhile, in civilian sectors, the laser is already being successfully used in fiber optic cables, scanners, medical devices, and industrial cutting tools. Now those laser cutting tools are leading to a new generation of laser weapons that just might stop insurgent rockets. Replete with interesting characters, bizarre schemes, and wonderful inventions, this is a well-told tale about the evolution of technology and the reaches of human ambition.We have made it easy for you to find a PDF Ebooks without any digging. And by having access to our ebooks online or by storing it on your computer, you have convenient answers with Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon. To get started finding Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon, you are right to find our website which has a comprehensive collection of manuals listed.
Our library is the biggest of these that have literally hundreds of thousands of different products represented.

Special Offer | $0.00

Special Offer! | $0.00

Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon

Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon

More Books

City of Light: The Story of Fiber Optics (Sloan Technology)

City of Light: The Story of Fiber Optics (Sloan Technology)

Understanding Fiber Optics

Understanding Fiber Optics

[Beam: The Race to Make the Laser] (By: Jeff Hecht) [published: July, 2010]

[Beam: The Race to Make the Laser] (By: Jeff Hecht) [published: July, 2010]

Beam Weapons: The Next Arms Race by Jeff Hecht (1985-05-03)

Beam Weapons: The Next Arms Race by Jeff Hecht (1985-05-03)

[Beam: The Race to Make the Laser] [By: Hecht, Jeff] [May, 2010]

[Beam: The Race to Make the Laser] [By: Hecht, Jeff] [May, 2010]

[(Laser Pioneers)] [By (author) Jeff Hecht] published on (February, 1992)

[(Laser Pioneers)] [By (author) Jeff Hecht] published on (February, 1992)

Beam Weapons: The Next Arms Race

Beam Weapons: The Next Arms Race

Understanding Lasers

Understanding Lasers

The Laser Guidebook

The Laser Guidebook