For you SF authors . . .

Should have read the warning caveat...

Warning: Extremely dangerous is an understatement to 1W of laser power. At close range, this Class 4 beam will cause immediate and irreversable retinal damage. Use with extreme caution and use only when wearing proper safety goggles with an O.D. of 3+ is required and 4.4+ for longer exposures. Customers will be required to completely read and agree to our Class 4 Laser Hazard Acknowledgment Form..

You can't buy one without signing a HAF?

ETA: Looks to me to be some kind of projection system??!!??!!

http://www.wickedlasers.com/images/products/secondary/277.jpg

or possibly a the beginnings of a light saber....

http://www.wickedlasers.com/images/products/secondary/279.jpg
 
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It has been reported in the UK media. Apparently it can cause severe skin burns at a distance, burn retinas to cause permanent blindness, and is a real danger if used against drivers or pilots.

It would be banned if sold from an UK address. Possession of one could be classed as "an offensive weapon" or possibly a firearm.

Use of laser pointers in the street is already an offence.

Og

PS: Australian News Report

Light sabre laser could cause blindness
By Brendan Trembath

Updated Thu Jun 17, 2010 11:39pm AEST

Audio: Experts warn handheld laser sold on net could blind people (PM) Related Story: Govt works to zap illegal laser trends It looks like a toy based on the Star Wars films - a laser shaped like a light sabre - but experts say it is incredibly dangerous and could start a fire or cause blindness.

For about $200, a China-based company is selling a handheld laser with a powerful beam about 1,000 times stronger than many laser pointers.

Scientists who work with lasers are horrified to learn that such a device is on sale to the public.

Dr Annette Dowd from the University of Technology Sydney agreed to review the laser's specifications for ABC Radio's PM.

"People could very readily access this laser which could cause blindness," she said.

"It could also start fires. It could be a very dangerous tool in the hands of people who didn't really know how to use it.

"It could be potentially be used as a scientific instrument but it doesn't look like it's been designed to be used as such."

Dr Dowd and her colleagues use powerful lasers to examine different materials. There are strict safety rules.

Those rules also apply at the University of New South Wales, where Professor Michael Gal uses lasers to look at things up close.

Professor Gal is also concerned that a handheld laser with a very strong beam is being sold online to the public.

"Tiny, tiny materials, that are much smaller than a human hair for example ... by shining light on these tiny objects and collecting the light emitted by these nanomaterials, we can understand what goes on in these very small materials," he said.

"A one-watt laser is a very powerful laser that can blind a person or can cause other damage."

The company which sells the laser could not be contacted.

Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O'Connor says the Australian Government tries to keep such devices out of the country, unless there is a good reason for people to have them.

"We are concerned about the potential dangers of lasers and for that reason on July 1, 2008 we placed a control on laser pointers to the extent that it was from that point on illegal to import a laser over 1 milliwatt emission without a permit," he said.

"There's fines up to $110,000 for illegally importing a laser - so quite significant fines for importation - and a very strict threshold to ensure that those dangerous lasers, those that cause potential harm, would be prevented coming in to our ports.

"It wouldn't matter who was to be looking to import a laser with such emissions capacity, the Government firstly would not be providing a permit for such a laser."

Mr O'Connor says people are still regularly caught trying to bring them in to the country.

"There's been a marked increase in the detection of laser pointers through mail and air cargo coming into Australia," he said.

"We've just over 20,000 lasers detected this financial year as of May, compared to 12,500 in the 2008/9 financial year.

"So I can conclude from those statistics that we are detecting a high number, but the detection is on the increase and I would hazard to guess that means people seeking to import them is also significantly still high.

"We have to be vigilant because these are potentially very dangerous."

The Minister says not everyone who brings a laser device into the country has a guilty mind, but he warns that they could face substantial penalties.
 
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Possession of this thing should be outlawed. It has no practical purposes other than destruction. This should be military only.

I read a couple years ago where a group, I believe at Stanford, was working on an actual lightsaber, using plasma. The plasma is supposed to act like the lightsabers in the movie, performing as a solid, repelling from other plasma.
 
Possession of this thing should be outlawed. It has no practical purposes other than destruction. This should be military only.

I read a couple years ago where a group, I believe at Stanford, was working on an actual lightsaber, using plasma. The plasma is supposed to act like the lightsabers in the movie, performing as a solid, repelling from other plasma.

Knowing our scientists the question begs to be asked... How big is it? or How long it the power cord?
 
It's the size of a big flashlight and is battery powered. Since it's an LED, that's all the juice it needs. Scary, what?
 
It's the size of a big flashlight and is battery powered. Since it's an LED, that's all the juice it needs. Scary, what?

I'm guessin' there's a mini-transformer in that dingus to boost the power...a few D cells wouldn't have the oomph to burn someone.

Those things need watching...a terrorist or some wack-job could take out a plane with one. :(
 
I'm guessin' there's a mini-transformer in that dingus to boost the power...a few D cells wouldn't have the oomph to burn someone.

Those things need watching...a terrorist or some wack-job could take out a plane with one. :(

I don't think they're that strong but you sure could hold up a bank by threatening to blind everyone. I sent them an email asking just what they were for.
 
If the beam is the right colour, and absolutely parallel, it has great uses in setting to optical lenses. That said, 200mW is an awesome power output
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