One research group in the Czech Republic claim to have built the most powerful laser in the world. Lasers are becoming more and more important for the advancement of industry and laser technology has been developing at a rapid pace. British, Czech and other scientists from all over the world tested a super laser they claim to be ten times stronger than any other in existence in Dolni Brezany near Prague on Thursday.
The device, called Bivoj, which is named after a mythical Czech strongman, was developed by a team of 280 scientists and technicians as a joint project by Britain's Central Laser Facility and High Average Power Pulsed Laser, or HiLASE, a Czech state research and development project. Bivoj weighs around 44,000 pounds, puts out over 1000 watts of energy, and costs about $50 million.
The researchers expect that the machine will make waves in industries such as semiconductors and metals processing. Of course, Bivoj may have some military uses as well.
