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 convention ...

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'' originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radi ...

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) is a self-propagating wave of the electromagnetic field that carries momentum and radiant energy through space. It encompasses a broad spectrum, classified by frequency or its inverse, wavelength ...

that affects

nerve cells A neuron (American English), neurone (British English), or nerve cell, is an excitable cell that fires electric signals called action potentials across a neural network in the nervous system. They are located in the nervous system and help to ...

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

riot control Riot control is a form of public order policing used by law enforcement, military, paramilitary or security forces to social control, control, disperse, and arrest people who are involved in a riot, unlawful Demonstration (people), demonstration ...

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 Orbital ATK Inc. was an American aerospace manufacturer and defense industry company. It was formed in February 9, 2015 from the merger of Orbital Sciences Corporation and parts of Alliant Techsystems (ATK). Orbital ATK designed, built, and de ...

). It uses a chemical deuterium fluoride laser device producing

infrared Infrared (IR; sometimes called infrared light) is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than that of visible light but shorter than microwaves. The infrared spectral band begins with the waves that are just longer than those ...

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

electron The electron (, or in nuclear reactions) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary charge, elementary electric charge. It is a fundamental particle that comprises the ordinary matter that makes up the universe, along with up qua ...

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 publis ...

'', 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