Gamma-ray Annihilation Lasers (GAL)

[David Morris]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6991030.stm

Mirror particles form new matter
By Jonathan Fildes
Science and technology reporter, BBC News

Fragile particles rarely seen in our Universe have been merged with
ordinary electrons to make a new form of matter.

Di-positronium, as the new molecule is known, was predicted to exist
in 1946 but has remained elusive to science.

Now, a US team has created thousands of the molecules by merging
electrons with their antimatter equivalent: positrons.

The discovery, reported in the journal Nature, is a key step in the
creation of ultrapowerful lasers known as gamma-ray annihilation
lasers.

"The difference in the power available from a gamma-ray laser compared
to a normal laser is the same as the difference between a nuclear
explosion and a chemical explosion," said Dr David Cassidy of the
University of California, Riverside, and one of the authors of the
paper.

"It would have an incredibly high power density."

As a result, there is a huge interest in the technology from the
military as well as energy researchers who believe the lasers could be
used to kick-start nuclear fusion in a reactor.