Most Powerful Scifi Laser In Theory We Could Make

[Spacescifi]

Scenario: There is virtually no limit to how much energy you can pump into the beam....so long the laser itself or the laser focusing lens is not destroyed in the process. The problem is we are using only known materials and they ALL have thermal limits.

Question: I am guessing that the materials limits will probably be similar to nuclear thermal rocketry engine limits or less....right?

Laser lenses can be destroyed with too much heat.

However I have read that lasers can self focus via plasma.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-focusing#:~:text=Ponderomotive self-focusing is caused,and inducing a focusing effect.&text=Self-focusing in a plasma,and channel a laser beam.

 

So with advanced plasma setup instead of a glass lens, perhaps the laser power level could be pushed up even higher?

Indeed I think all scifi lasers with uber power enough to cut through steel or burn through rock easily would benefiy from plasma focusing rather than a breakable glass lens.

Edited June 10, 2021 by Spacescifi

[FleshJeb]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Nicoll#Nicoll-Dyson_Laser

Or a Stellaser per: 

 

[StrandedonEarth]

How about a stellar-pumped laser?

From the wiki page about The Ringworld Engineers, by Larry Niven:

Quote

The control room contains living space and, among other things, the meteor defense system. The defense system uses the superconductor grid embedded in the Ringworld's scrith floor to manipulate the magnetic field of the Ringworld's sun to trigger stellar flares that power a titanic gas laser. (The first expedition to the Ringworld crashed after being hit by this laser.)

 

[kerbiloid]

As big as Cepheus A.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aab096

[SpaceFace545]

I don’t know, it’s sci fi so I’d say it can be as powerful as the writer needs it to be

[Spacescifi]

Let me rephrase the question.

 

 

The most powerful laser you could put in theory on a spaceship?

 

I tend to think lens size increases range, so I envision some wide radius plasma lens since plasma does not burn unlike glass lens.

[SOXBLOX]

Build a Shkadov thruster. Call it a ship. Occasionally dump collected solar energy into a Dyson laser. Voilá!

Then name the ship the Fiat Lux. 

Edited June 13, 2021 by SOXBLOX

[SpaceFace545]

16 hours ago, Spacescifi said:

Let me rephrase the question.

 

 

The most powerful laser you could put in theory on a spaceship?

 

I tend to think lens size increases range, so I envision some wide radius plasma lens since plasma does not burn unlike glass lens.

The ultra mega quadrillion googolplex infinity quadcore laser focused laser

[kerbiloid]

Is that greater than three thousand?

[RealKerbal3x]

15 minutes ago, kerbiloid said:

Is that greater than three thousand?

It's over nine thousand.