How much power is in a 5MW laser?

Question

Yes, that is five megawatts, not milliwatts.
The wavelength is 650nm.

It's a misprint on my laser pointer, but I want to know what you could do with a 5MW laser.

Answer 1

This is a laser I work with,it is 7000 watts and can cut up to 1.25" thick Mild steel..Now that's power..

http://www.us.trumpf.com/products/machine-tools/products/2d-laser-cutting/laser-cutting-machines/trulaser-series-5000.html

Wally

Answer 2

How much power is in a 5MW laser?



That's easy. It's 5 Megawatt, or 5 million Joules per second.





Yes, that is five megawatts, not milliwatts.



Of course. 5MW is 5 megawatt, 5mW is milliwatt; notice the different capitalization on the unit prefixes.





The wavelength is 650nm.



Wavelength has no influence on power. That's what Einstein explained.



Contrary to popular belief, Albert Einstein wasn't awared the Nobel prize for his work on Special Relativity, but for the explanation on the photoelectric effect. The photoelectric effect explains that the electrons ejected from a metal surface only when the wavelength exceeds a certain threshold. The power only influences the intensity of the current (number of electrons per second), not their energy (which is always the same). You can have the most powerful laser -- but if its wavelength is not enough to create photoelectrons, then no electrons are coming out. So, wavelength bears no influence on the power.

Answer 3

5MW laser can pack energy of 5 mega joules in one second pulse.

Generally pulsed lasers have sub-milli second pulse period. 5 kilojoule energy in 1 millisecond equals 5 mega watt (5MW).

Such lasers are to be used in Star War programme (Strategic Defence Initiative of Ron reagan) in Space Warfare. 650 nm is in Red region (Red laser). Most are now in IR region of nearly 0.8 |u (800 nm) or 1 |u (1000 nm).

Your laser pointer is only 5 mW not MW, a difference of billion times.

For 5MW you need to work on plasma in a flame followed by Hypersonic wind tunnel like contraption, that occupies a whole room.

Answer 4

Well, the US military is looking for a mere 150kW for its High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System project, which is intended to shoot down artillery projectiles, missiles, and rockets.



5 MW would have serious weaponization potential... if you could keep it powered.

Answer 5

Laser diodes are rather vulnerable to capacity modifications. 9v will maximum in all possibility blow it out. be careful. extra isn't consistently merrier. Are you attempting to construct a burning laser?