P2_10 Laser Powered Elevator

Abstract

 

The aim of this paper is to analyse how powerful a laser would have to be in order to lift a standard passenger elevator. The lifting force in this case is provided by the radiation pressure alone. We found that the laser beam would need a power of 3.8×10¹² W to provide sufficient lifting force to accelerate the elevator car upwards at a rate of 1.7ms^-2.