/sci/ - Science & Math

>>7292600
No, physics is for theoretical wankery. The laser was designed by electrical engineers.

>>7292625
The foundations of lasers were laid by physicists though.

>>7292625
>>7292643
So I take it's not possible?

>>7292600
No, absolutely not.

10KW solid state lasers that can fit in a small turret don't design themselves man. Engineers specialize in design unlike physicists. There is the option to double major if you're up to it.

>>7292600

that's not really a physics problem, it's an engineering problem.

i mean theoretically speaking
some chinese child probably produced the nuts and bolts

but the design and shit, that's mostly optical engineering.

>>7292625
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH
Cool meme friend

>>7292600
Yes, physicist are very wanted in the defense industry.

High-power laser physics student/researcher here. My lab is funded heavily by the U.S. military to do the basic physics research of plasma channels inducing lasers that will one day be weaponized. Once the basic research is published here, engineers and researchers in classified labs are tasked with packaging the laser system, making it durable and efficient, and pretty much transforming it from pic related that takes up half a room to something you can mount on a ship/truck/airplane. They additionally have physicists (my P.I. is one of them) doing basic research that stays classified until the public science community catches up.

>>7294476
>plasma channels inducing lasers
Plasma channels induced BY lasers*. This just means there's a threshold power density that, when reached, ionizes the air and strikes a balance between focusing caused by heat increase and defocusing due to the nature of the forming plasma. This keeps them from diffracting over really long distances, and they conduct electricity as well.

>>7292600
Defence industry doesn't really hire Physics. Look into EE or MechE instead.

>>7294464
No, it's extremely hard for a SS PhD to be hired and even then your research group will be led an engi. Don't make crappy recommendations on /sci/

>>7294505
But you couldn't be more wrong; quit driving people away from interesting career ideas with your ignorance.

http://www.nrl.navy.mil/ppd/branches/6730

This department is mostly physicists working for the US military in directed energy weapons. If you look at Division overview, you'll find other physics-related departments. Militaries do science, too.

>>7294480
>This keeps them from diffracting over really long distances,
That's really cool, I was just wondering if something like that existed today, great to read that it does.

>>7292600
Of course. It's actually their specialty.

>>7294517
Are you retarded? Just because a department has "physics" in the name doesn't mean it's composed of "physicists".

>>7294614
Christ, why do people try to sound smart about shit they know nearly nothing about? Are you going to tell me that these are engineers as well?

http://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?page=182

The army needs both physicists and engineers, and yes, probably more of the latter than the former, but there are plenty of physics positions available nonetheless.

Please enlighten me otherwise when you have evidence to back your claims. Otherwise, climb down from mount stupid and do some research before you post.