Gravity Laser | |
---|---|
Type | Planetary Siege Weapon |
Place of origin | Principality of Zeon (Universal Century timeline) |
Service history | |
Used by | Principality of Zeon |
Wars | One Year War |
Specifications |
A gravity laser, also sometimes referred to as a gaser, graser, or glaser, is a hypothetical device for stimulated emission of coherent gravitational radiation or gravitons, much in the same way that a standard laser produces coherent electromagnetic radiation.
While photons exist as excitations of a vector potential and so contain an oscillating dipole term, gravitons are a spin-2 field and so have an oscillating quadrupole term. For efficient lasing to occur, there are several conditions that must be met: [1]
Alternate design proposals involve free undulators akin to a free-electron laser. [2] [3] Several proposals involve exploiting the momentum transport properties of superconductors, where s-waves and d-waves couple distinctly to gravitational radiation. [4] [5]
As of 2024, interest in gravity lasers has begun to enter research. [6]
The idea of gravity lasers has been popularized by science fiction works such as David Brin's Earth (1990). While attempting to remove micro singularities inadvertently introduced into the planetary mantle, it is found they can serve as mirrors. With the necessary energy levels found in gravitational potentials of the planet's core and mantle, the resulting 'graser' beams are initially employed to nudge the singularities somewhere safer. Other uses are soon found, such as propelling objects into space and for weaponry of various levels of sophistication.
Other works, such as the RPG Star Ocean (1996) use them as a hypothetical weapon. [7] They are also commonly employed as a proposed mechanism for tractor beams, antigravity, and space propulsion.
In Alastair Reynolds' novel Redemption Ark (2002), a graser is utilised by the Inhibitors to bore into, and puncture, Resurgam's sun.
In the television series Justice League (2001–2004), the Thanagarian military use a type of gravity laser to weigh down and paralyze the Flash.
The novel Earth Unaware (2012) uses 'glasers' as a plot device to enable planetary-scale manipulation of matter, akin to gravity guns.