"Pew-Pew: What Do Lasers Actually Sound Like?" Topic

"If you've ever watched a science-fiction movie, you might think you know what lasers sound like: some variation of a noise you could write as "pew." But, you've used a laser pointer, right? Did it go "pew"?

Powerful lasers do make sounds—but they're not "pew" and they don't come from the light itself. Instead, the noise comes from the equipment that generates the laser light or the interaction between a laser beam and an object.

First, let's discuss what a laser really is. Matter is made of many atoms, around which there are electrons. Electrons can only exist in certain locations around those atoms, called energy levels. If you excite an electron with energy, it will jump to a higher energy level. Some time later, it might spontaneously jump to a lower energy level, causing the atom to emit a particle of light, called a photon. But rather than wait, you can also stimulate the emission yourself by hitting the laser with more properly tuned photons. The result is a tight beam of photons with synced-up electromagnetic fields. Lasers are devices that produce light based on this principle…"
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Amicalement
Armand

Everybody knows that lasers don't go "pew! pew!" Blasters go "pew! pew!"

Pay attention.

I seem to recall a loud popping noise, when/if they hit their target, based upon videos I've seen.

It's more of a "sizzle" as the beam passes through the air (or the target.) But the actual sound is mostly out of the range of hearing for humans… ;-)

I like the Schlock Mercenary energy weapons' "Ominous Hum"

Probably was one of the reason Star Wars movies used "blasters"

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

I always liked the "popping" sound made in The Illustrated Man.

While we're on the subject, what do we think, or what does research suggest, will happen when a laser weapon hits a human target?

I'm expecting an explosion of pink steam, but I suppose it's possible that it will just carbonize everything within some distance of its point of contact.

Our MILES system was lasers … didn't sound like anything.