"Pain without Injury: Works by Avi Alpert & Steven Lam, Steve Ausbury, and





Olen Hsu," Jan. 5-Jan 27, 2008, at PS122 Gallery, 150 First Avenue, New York,





NY 10009"





Reviewed by

Dr. M.F. Javed

A directed-energy weapon (DEW) emits energy in an aimed direction without the means of a projectile. It transfers energy to a target for a desired effect. Intended effects may be non-lethal or lethal. The technology has been available for several decades in the United States Department of Energy National Laboratories, NATO and Czech Ministry of Defence. Currently, the technology is being considere

d for non-military use to protect Earth from asteroids.

The energy can come in various forms:

Electromagnetic radiation, in lasers or masers

Particles with mass, in particle beam weapons (technically a form of micro-projectile weapon)

Sound, in sonic weapons

In science fiction, these weapons are sometimes known as death rays or rayguns and are usually portrayed as projecting energy at a person or object to kill or destroy. Many modern examples of science fiction have more specific names for directed energy weapons, due to research advances. Flamethrowers do not fall into this category, as they are actually projectile weapons; the projectile (gas or liquid) is simply on fire.(globalsecuriy.org)







