Knowledge of a laser beam's shape and output-power distribution is critical for optimizing laser performance. Neil Savage summarizes the latest beam-profiling products on the market. People using ...

His first attempts either blew right through the film or did absolutely nothing, but eventually he had the bright idea to move the laser farther from the LDPE. This put the beam out of focus ...

[New York Times] To take down a jet or missile, a laser beam would have to be at least 100 kilowatts, the strength "generally considered militarily mature," says Spencer Ackerman at Wired.