rad0,

        In a word, yes.  But, the amount that you can drive is finite.
Ultimately, the optical power density within the fiber will cause all
kinds of molecular havoc within, and the fiber losses will jump
dramatically

        When a powerful laser beam is 'shot' through the atmosphere, the beam
is distorted somewhat due to perturbations from the molecular heating
and eventually disperses somewhat.

        New techniques use adaptive wave optics to pre-distort the beam in the
opposite direction, so the the distortion in the atmosphere will
somewhat re-align the beam.

Larry


rad0 wrote:
>
> 'ok' here's one for you
>
> can you transmit laser energy through a fiber optic cable?
>
> If you have a laser that melts metal, can you channel this type of
> thing through a fiber optic cable and still melt the metal?
>
> Or is there any other way to channel this type of laser?
> mirrors or something else?
>
> thanks
>
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--
Larry ("Weester")
Manassas, Va.
'99 XLC ("Mz. Piggy")
http://users.erols.com/lreynol4/smme&myharley.jpg

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