Device X

 is a type of electroshock weapon which is also a directed-energy weapon. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel (LIPC). A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel and delivered to the target, thus functioning overall as a large-scale, high energy, long-distance electroshock.

Alternating current is sent through a series of step-up transformers, increasing the voltage and decreasing the current. The final voltage may be between 108 and 109 volts.This current is fed into the plasma channel created by the laser beam.

A laser-Induced plasma channel (LIPC) is formed by the following process:

A laser emits a laser beam into the air.
 * The laser beam rapidly heats and ionizes surrounding gases to form plasma.
 * The plasma forms an electrically conductive plasma channel.
 * Because a laser-induced plasma channel relies on ionization, gas must exist between the electrolaser weapon and its target. If a laser-beam is intense enough, its electromagnetic field is strong enough to rip electrons off of air molecules, or whatever gas happens to be in between, creating plasma. Similar to lightning, the rapid heating also creates a sonic boom.

Usage

 * To kill or incapacitate a human target through electric shock.
 * To seriously damage, disable, or destroy any electric or electronic devices in the target.
 * As electrolasers and natural lightning both use plasma channels to conduct electric current, an electrolaser can set up a light-induced plasma channel for uses such as:
 * To study lightning
 * During a thunderstorm, to make lightning discharge at a safe time and place, as with a lightning conductor.
 * Directing atmospheric lightning to a terrestrial collection station for the purpose of electrical power generation.
 * As a weapon, to make a thunderhead deliver a precise lightning strike onto a target from an aircraft; in this case, the aircraft and laser can be compared to a triggered spark gap, in that the relatively minor amount of initial input from the laser allows a large amount of energy to flow between the cloud and the ground.