Guy Builds Real Star Trek Phaser

Here are some videos for you guys building this stuff at home. Enjoy.



















I would prefer a coil gun though.

reply to post by Aim64C


Hello Aim36C - i enjoy reading your posts, a voice of reason i personally feel.
Thankyou for that in-depth explanation - good to see some technical expertise on the site

One minor alteration to your description - if we are using the star trek definition of 'Phaser', which being as this is a star trek phaser 'mock-up' we must, it is not a phased modulation based device, i.e. an upgraded laser (although phased modulation may be part of its operation).

The main difference between them, according to star trek, is lasers use collimated photons to dump energy onto a target. Phasers use a (fictional) particle called a 'Nadion' - which one would assume is just another type of energy that can be collimated into a beam.

I believe you are correct in your assertion though that molecular shearing forces come into play as well, so that not only energy is deposited on the target, but it actually rips the target apart at the molecular level. Now HELL would that be some weapon

Star Trek = LEGEND

reply to post by JizzyMcButter


That's why these lasers should be banned. All they do is blind people and disturb air traffic posing significant risks to to people flying. Just imagine the havoc if these are mass produced and kids get hold of them and start shining them in peoples eye balls. They serve no purpose. If you want to pop a balloon use a pin, if you want to light something use a match. People messing about with these things are irresponsible, adults should know better.

reply to post by Frankenchrist


The room is filled with smoke from a smoke machine (you hear it puff at the start of the video). In reality you would not see that beam, just a bright spot.

In reality the ability to pop balloons and such really have nothing to do with the "Blu-Ray" laser itself.

The ability comes from using a cheaper manufacturing method of frequency doubling of 808 nm lasers, to give you the 404 nm laser needed for Blu-ray playback. The side effect is a large amount of unfiltered infrared energy from the original 808 nm laser because the frequency doubling is not very efficient.

True "Violet" (Blu-ray is actually violet) laser semiconductors have appeared on the market, but are still well out of the range cost wise for mass production in Blu-ray systems.

So in reality, this person did nothing special and the only reason one is able to do some of the heat effects has more to do with inefficiencies of converting a cheaper laser diode to one useable in the Blu-ray spec.

Originally posted by Frankenchrist
So darn cool.

So darn FAKE....

That is what my first impression and gut feeling is. If I had built such a ray-gun I would have been so proud to give an explanation and tell all about it and not show some short CGI or what ever photoshop vid.

reply to post by BIHOTZ


Of all the demonstrations you have, there - only three really have the potential for weapons applications.

Personally, I've been working on an efficient multi-stage coil-gun design for some time (one of my projects for post-deployment, since I'll have some of the financial resources to get as elaborate as I want to). The reality is, though, that a mobile weapon platform based off of it would have to be of the mounted variety. Capacitor and insulator technologies are simply not to a point where the high voltages necessary can be stored (though super-capacitive inductors offer a potential solution to the problem and would naturally kick into the hundred kilovolt range to drive current spikes through the coils).

The others are in the military laser systems: www.gizmag.com... :

"The results show that all critical technologies for an operational laser weapon system are mature enough to begin a formal weapon system development program," said Steve Hixson, vice president, space and directed energy systems at Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "Solid-state laser weapons are ready to transition to the fleet."

I do have to wonder how that will work out in terms of cost-effectiveness, however. Those high-power components will burn out in "short order" (compared to the measly 5W LED lighting arrays packaged into a massive heat-sink for home use). Those laser diodes are not at all cheap, nor are the power regulating and supply parts (which will eventually fail, too - if far less frequently).

On the other hand - conventional ammunition expires, suffers corrosion, and (theoretically) requires far more room to store aboard a ship. It must also be replaced after being used, and the weapons must be serviced and maintained (with many spending considerable amounts of time pulled out of service due to maintenance issues).

In theory - that should be a very cost-effective move for the Navy. Though that depends upon what kind of replacement fees are contracted for the system's components.