Lasers, Death Rays, and the Long, Strange Quest for the Ultimate Weapon

The laser--a milestone invention of the mid-twentieth century--quickly captured the imagination of the Pentagon as the key to the ultimate weapon. Veteran science writer Jeff Hecht tells the inside story of the adventures and misadventures of scientists and military strategists as they exerted herculean though often futile efforts to adapt the laser for military uses. From the 1950s' sci-fi vision of the "death ray," through the Reagan administration's "Star Wars" missile defense system, to more promising developments today, Hecht provides an entertaining history.

Year

2019

Language

English

Publisher

Globe Pequot Press, The

Editions

2

Pages

303

ISBN

9781633884618

Data source: Wikidata