Chinese scientists have developed a portable 2 kW laser system capable of operating in extreme temperatures (from -50°C to +50°C) without the need for cooling or heating systems, the South China Morning Post reports.
The device was developed at the National Defense University of China under the leadership of Chen Jingbao, one of the leading experts in the field of laser weapons.
The team achieved stable laser operation through a number of engineering solutions—including the use of 940-nm pump lasers with low thermal drift, external placement of heat-sensitive components, and ytterbium-doped fibers that have high efficiency and thermal stability.
In tests, the laser reached a peak power of 2.47 kW with an efficiency of 71% and almost perfect beam quality. At the same time, the dimensions of the installation are close to the format of a suitcase, which gives it an advantage over competitors such as HELMA-P from France, which require containers with cooling systems.
In addition to military uses, such as countering drones, this technology can be applied in industry for precision cutting, welding, and optoelectronic countermeasures.
The development team is already working on further increasing the laser's power and resistance to even wider temperature conditions.