Agency for promising defense research projects (DARPA) reportThat its researchers have set a record – they used a cluster to fry popcorn at a distance of 8.6 km.
To prepare popcorn, researchers had to switch energy to optical beams. As a result, in 30 seconds, 800 watts are transmitted at a distance of 8.6 km – this is an absolute record. Part of this energy has been used to prepare popcorn. Note that this is a reference for the 1985 science and novel comedy.
However, the purpose of Darpa is not to send energy to a record distance, but to accept it, and then turn into a power source. According to the researchers, their laser beams aimed at a special optical energy receiver, in which a ray is reflected from the parabola mirror and is sent to dozens of photovoltaic elements. These factors have converted optical energy into electrical energy.
The study was conducted as part of the persistent optical energy relay program (Power) – initiatives to create a network of optical energy control machines. The purpose of the system is an instant energy transmission to the necessary place. At the same time, experience with popcorn must confirm the ability of the new design to increase the potential distance of the transmission.