One of the most iconic images of Star Wars is the destroyer ray of worlds of the Star of the Death. Basically, there are several green beams that converge to form a larger beam.
This image could be a simple aesthetic license, but a new study indicates that it has theoretical support.
Confluence of rays
In the study conducted at Macquaire University, and published in Laser and Photonics Reviews, he argues that the energy of multiple lasers is transferred into a single intense output beam, which can be directed to the intended target.
The key to the high-power beam is to place an ultra-pure diamond crystal at the point of convergence, and the combined beam is achieved in the diamond by taking advantage of a cooperative effect on the crystal that causes intense beams of light to transfer its energy in one direction, avoiding the beam distortion problems of individual laser technologies.
As co-author of the study Rich Mildren explains:
This discovery is technologically significant since laser researchers are struggling with the increase of energy beyond a certain level, due to the great challenges in handling the large heat buildup, and the combination of multiple laser beams is a in the most promising ways to substantially increase the power limit.