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It’s fascinating when science fiction starts to take shape in the real world. Chinese scientists have been in the spotlight recently for developing a technology that resembles the famous superlaser on the Death Star in “Star Wars.” The weapon, which uses convergent microwaves from multiple beams, combines technological precision with concepts that we’ve only seen in movies before.
How the Microwave Gun Works
For those who remember the iconic Death Star from “Star Wars,” its destructive power came from a combination of kyber crystals and multiple laser cannons.
China’s new weapon system is similar in concept, but it is based on microwaves rather than lasers, and has a striking difference: the ability to align multiple beams of energy at a single point with ultra-high precision. This level of precision requires control over location and timing that is almost unimaginable – and yet the technology exists.
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China, known for leading advances in military technologies, has developed autonomous vehicles that can align themselves to the millimeter and coordinate the timing of microwave beams with a margin of error of less than 170 picoseconds (i.e. one trillionth of a second!). To give you an idea, this is more accurate than the atomic clocks on satellites GPS.
Applications of the New Chinese Weapon
Not only is this technology impressive, it has the potential for a variety of military and security uses. In practical terms, these microwave-emitting vehicles could be used to:
- Military education and training: Equipment that simulates attacks can help troops respond in realistic conditions, without the need for live ammunition.
- Verification of new technologies: Before new weapons or defense systems are implemented, they can be tested and evaluated under controlled conditions.
- Anti-satellite defense: While incapable of destroying planets like the fictional Death Star weapon, this new technology could disable nearby orbiting satellites, such as enemy GPS navigation or communications satellites, without the space debris risks of a physical attack.
This weapon could also potentially disrupt GPS signals and specific satellites, using beam combining to significantly amplify their power. For the Chinese military, this represents a strategic advantage, as they could disable or disrupt communications without causing catastrophic damage.
Advanced Technology with Extreme Precision
An important aspect of the development of this weapon is the accuracy of its time synchronization. Last year, Chinese scientists managed to set a world record by synchronizing clocks over a distance of 1.800 km with an accuracy of 10 picoseconds using fiber optics. This breakthrough is essential for the operation of the new microwave weapon, where even a millimeter or nanosecond of difference could compromise the effectiveness of the attack.
Each of the microwave-emitting vehicles is also equipped with laser positioning aids. These detect their exact coordinates and share this data with a main command center, where the information is analyzed and coordinated. This central command then emits the attack signals, ensuring that all vehicles are perfectly aligned before firing.
This level of precision requires a timing system synchronized via fiber optics, where even the smallest deviations are corrected so that the beams converge with maximum efficiency.
Future and Limits of Microwave Technology
Despite being inspired by the famous Star Wars weapon, this technology still has significant limitations. A microwave weapon, even with the ability to combine and amplify beams, does not have enough energy to destroy planets, or even large terrestrial structures. Scientists suggest that the current capacity of the technology allows, at most, damage to satellites close to Earth's orbit, but it is still far from the fantasy of cinema.
Still, a weapon like this adds a new arsenal of possibilities to the military realm. Theoretically, if the power of the beams could be increased, the Chinese military could develop a more advanced space warfare tool. This not only raises the bar for the potential use of microwave weapons, but also serves as a reminder that in today’s world, the line between science and science fiction is increasingly blurred.
I always stay up to date with news and information about Chinese technology and military. The Chinese do not usually disclose products, equipment and information unless they are ready or successfully tested. Most of the disclosures were already secret. For example, they disclosed the fifth-generation fighter, but then what do you mean that the sixth generation has been in development for a long time? They say they are going to build it... but I mean, construction has already started. The Chinese government does not like to disclose information regarding the military, but when it does disclose it, it is because it is already outdated technology. There is no interest or value in keeping it a secret.
To escape, all you need to do is increase the orbit of the satellites, that is, a lot of investment and little return... It would be better to invest in the quality of life of the population...
In the movie “ROBOTS”, these same robots that invaded Earth fire an energy beam at humans similar to a microwave beam, as the result is the immediate pulverization of the fugitives! One of the best special effects I have ever seen, taking into account that it clearly shows the victim turning into subatomic dust in a single instant! Very sinister!