Re: Laser communications idea
Hal Finney (hal@rain.org)
Sun, 10 May 1998 13:43:52 -0700
If the communicator scatters diffusively (as compared to reflecting the
light directly from point A to point B, which would require very careful
aiming), then you have two inverse square transmissions multiplying each
other, for an inverse fourth power efficiency. That would require much
more power than just getting the laser from ground to space or back.
Hal