死光
死光(英语:Death Ray),亦作杀人光线(日语:さつじんこうせん)或死亡射线。在一种理论物理学上,利用粒子束或电磁波(包括光)为基础的武器,其高峰研究期位于1920年代到1930年代。当中以尼古拉·特斯拉及Harry Grindell-Matthews最为知名,其他独立研究者还有Edwin R. Scott及Graichen,他们都是死光武器研究的先驱[1][2]。研究现时基本终止,但在科幻小说里经常都有出现。1957年,美国的全国发明家理事会在其发表的所需的军事发明列表内,当中仍然包括有死光。
历史
一位来自旧金山的发明者埃德温·斯科特(Edwin R. Scott)声称他是第一个为死光作出具体定义的人,就是会摧毁人类生命和可在远距离把飞机击落[3]。他出生在底特律,而且声称曾担任查尔斯·P·斯坦梅茨的学生及门生长达9年[4]。Harry Grindell-Matthews在1924年曾试图向英国空军部出售他的死光报告,但一直也不能向该部门提供一个能正常运作的模型作演示[3]。
二战期间,纳粹德国的两项研究及日本帝国的一项研究均有把死光用于军事的研究。当中德国的一项计划,由Schiebold带领,利用一部装有一组可操纵的铍杆的粒子加速器产生死光的研究。
参看
参考资料
- ^ To, Wireless. Finds a 'Death Ray' Fatal to Humans. German Scientist Says it Inflames and Destroys Cells, Hence Aids in Disease. Expects to Split Atom. Dr. Graichen Has Device to Make Blind See With Light Sent Through the Skull.. New York Times. 1928-06-04 [2007-07-21]. (原始内容存档于2013-11-09).
Berlin, June 3, 1928. The discovery of a new 'death ray,' capable of destroying, though not intended to destroy, human life, has just been announced by Dr. Graichen, a young physicist and engineer employed as an experimenter by the Siemens Halske Electric Company.
- ^ The 'Death Ray' Rivals. New York Times. 1924-05-29 [2007-07-21]. (原始内容存档于2013-11-09).
The inventors of a 'death ray' multiply every day. To H. Grindell-Matthews and Professor T.F. Wall have been added two other Englishmen, Prior and Raffe, and Grammachikoff, a Russian. Herr Wulle, 'chief of the militarists' in the Reichstag, has informed that body that the Government has a device that will bring down airplanes, stop tank engines, and 'spread a curtain of death.'
- ^ 3.0 3.1 Denies British Invented 'Death Ray'. E.R. Scott Asserts He and Other Americans Preceded Grindell-Matthews.. New York Times. 1924-09-05.
Washington, DC, September 4, 1924 Edwin R. Scott an inventor of San Francisco, today challenged the assertion of Mr. Grindell-Matthews, who sailed for London on the Homeric last week, that the latter was the first to develop a 'death-ray' that would destroy human life and bring down planes at a distance.
- ^ Death Stroke. 时代杂志. August 10, 1925 [2007-07-21]. (原始内容存档于2007-11-02).
Utmost secrecy always shrouds the structural details of new munitions of war. This one, announced last week by its inventor, Dr. Edwin R. Scott, is called the 'death stroke' or 'canned lightning.' The Navy Department, which has been in touch with Dr. Scott's researches, hinted that the ultraviolet ray was involved, but Dr. Scott stated specifically: 'There is no ray or beam about it.'