Pulsed energy projectile or PEP is a technology of

non-lethal weapon Non-lethal weapons, also called nonlethal weapons, less-lethal weapons, less-than-lethal weapons, non-deadly weapons, compliance weapons, or pain-inducing weapons are weapons intended to be less likely to kill a living target than conventiona ...

ry. The U.S. military is developing PEP using an invisible

laser A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The word "laser" is an acronym for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". The ...

pulse which ablates the target's surface and creates a small amount of exploding plasma. This produces a pressure wave that stuns the target and

electromagnetic radiation In physics, electromagnetic radiation (EMR) consists of waves of the electromagnetic (EM) field, which propagate through space and carry momentum and electromagnetic radiant energy. It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, (visib ...

that affects

nerve cells A neuron, neurone, or nerve cell is an electrically excitable cell that communicates with other cells via specialized connections called synapses. The neuron is the main component of nervous tissue in all animals except sponges and placozoa. ...

causing a painful sensation. The technology can be used as a lethal weapon. The pulsed energy projectile is intended for

riot control Riot control measures are used by law enforcement, military, paramilitary or security forces to control, disperse, and arrest people who are involved in a riot, unlawful demonstration or unlawful protest. If a riot is spontaneous and irratio ...

and is said to work over distances of up to 2 km. It weighs about 230 kg and can be mounted on vehicles. The US system was developed by Mission Research Corporation (now owned by

Orbital ATK Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS) was a sector (business segment) of Northrop Grumman from 2018 through 2019. It was formed from Orbital ATK Inc. a company which resulted from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alli ...

). It uses a chemical deuterium fluoride laser device producing

infrared Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of Light, visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from ...

laser pulses. The plasma (produced by the early part of the pulse) explodes because its

electron The electron ( or ) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary electric charge. Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family, and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have n ...

s absorb the energy of the later part of the pulse. In 2003, a US military review reported that the electromagnetic radiation produced by PEPs cause pain and temporary paralysis in animal experiments. The United States Special Operations Command FY 2010 plans included starting development on a Counter UAV Pulsed Energy Projectile.

Controversy

PEP became controversial when it appeared that a team under Brian Cooper was assigned to work on the pain factor. It was discovered that PEP could with some tweaking induce cold burn feelings and other forms of painful sensations. The controversy and the fear of public opinion to see it turned into a torture tool that wouldn't leave any physical evidence on the victim ended the official program. Cooper kept on studying effects of laser-generated plasma pulse on pain receptors and published a paper in 2008 titled "Frequency Dependent Interaction of Ultrashort E-Fields with Nociceptor Membranes and Proteins".

References

Sources

globalsecurity.org - Pulsed Energy Projectile (PEP)

New Scientist - Maximum pain is aim of new US weapon
2 March 2005 * Andrew Buncombe
Pentagon attacked for `Pulse' gun that inflicts long-distance pain
''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...

'', 5 March 2005
Military contract for PEP pain study
from thememoryhole.org * John B. Alexander

National Defense. March 2002
Presentation on PIKL
by Harry Moore, 29 August 2000 {{Alliant Techsystems Non-lethal weapons Energy weapons Alliant Techsystems

Controversy

See also

References

Sources