Lasers are the most iconic form of science fiction ever created — everyone remembers watching the Death Star blow up Alderaan for the first time. Then again, considering just how quickly laser technology has been advancing, giant lasers aren't exactly fiction anymore.

Back in 2013, the apex of laser technology was a 50,000 watt laser successfully destroying an unmanned drone. It was a huge moment for the tech: it essentially proved that lasers can be used to precisely destroy targets from an absolutely ridiculous distance. However, even with said demonstration, the 50 kilowatt laser is just a plaything compared with some of the world's biggest laser weapon systems.

For example, researchers at Osaka University in Japan are claiming to have successfully fired the world's most powerful laser. The pulse only lasted for a trillionth of a second, but it dwarfs just about every other system on the planet: the Laser for Fast Ignition Experiments just fired a two-quadrillion watt laser.

Don't worry, the LFEX won't be mounted onto a tank or truck anytime soon: the current chassis is currently over 300 feet long and takes up an entire room on its own.

So, what's a Japanese research team to do after firing the world's most powerful laser? Make it even bigger, of course! According to Junji Kawanaka (via the Asashi Shimbun), an associate professor at Osaka University, the new goal is for the LFEX to hit 10 petawatts in one pulse:

"With heated competition in the world to improve the performance of lasers, our goal now is to increase our output to 10 petawatts."

As if one gigantic laser wasn't scary enough on its own, the LFEX isn't even the first of its kind: while it's not quite as powerful, the University of Texas is currently working with its own petawatt laser system, appropriately named the Texas Petawatt.

Thankfully, you won't have to worry about planet-destorying space stations just yet: according to Star Wars lore, the LFEX is only about half as powerful as the first Death Star.

It looks like we're safe ... for now.

TAG Japan, Lasers

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