- Pulsed Energy Projectile
Pulsed Energy Projectile or PEP is a technology of
non-lethal weapon ry currently under development by theU.S. military . It involves the emission of an invisiblelaser pulse which, upon contact with the target, ablates the surface and creates a small amount of exploding plasma; this results in a sound and shock wave that stuns the target as well as inelectromagnetic radiation that affectsnerve cells and causes a painful sensation. The technology can also be used as a lethal weapon, and indeed an early name was Pulsed Impulsive Kill Laser (PIKL).PEP is intended for
riot control and is said to work over distances of up to 2 km. It weighs about 230 kg and will probably be mounted on vehicles.The system was developed by
Mission Research Corporation (now owned byAlliant Techsystems ). It uses a chemicaldeuterium fluoride laser device producinginfrared laser pulses. The plasma (produced by the early part of the pulse) explodes because itselectron s absorb the energy of the later part of the pulse.In 2003, a US military review reportedFact|date=September 2008 that the electromagnetic radiation produced by PEPs had been shown to cause pain and temporary
paralysis in animal experiments.Sources
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/pep.htm globalsecurity.org - Pulsed Energy Projectile (PEP)]
* [http://www.newscientist.com/channel/mech-tech/dn7077 New Scientist - Maximum pain is aim of new US weapon] ,2 March 2005
* Andrew Buncombe. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20050305/ai_n11854981 Pentagon attacked for `Pulse' gun that inflicts long-distance pain] . "The Independent ",5 March 2005
* [http://www.thememoryhole.org/mil/weapons/navy-ufl_pep_contract.htm Military contract for PEP pain study] , from thememoryhole.org
* John B. Alexander. [http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2002/Mar/Non-Lethal.htm Non-Lethal Weapons to Gain Relevancy in Future Conflicts.] National Defense. March 2002
* [http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/smallarms/Moore.pdf Presentation on PIKL] , by Harry Moore,29 August 2000
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