DARPA Zaps Popcorn With Laser Power Beamed 5.3 Miles Through Air

What was once a sci-fi fantasy is steadily transforming into a battlefield reality. DARPA, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, through its Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program, recently completed a record-setting test of long-range laser power transmission. And yes—they celebrated with popcorn.

The POWER team transmitted over 800 watts of laser-generated electricity across a 5.3-mile (8.6-kilometer) distance, marking a major leap beyond prior experiments. For context, that’s enough energy to power small household appliances like a refrigerator or a full RV setup. While not battlefield-ready just yet, it’s a significant milestone for a technology that could one day revolutionize how energy is delivered in remote or tactical environments.

To honor the moment and perhaps to have a little fun, the team used part of the transmitted power to make popcorn, a nod to Real Genius, the cult classic 1985 film where students weaponize laser technology. But DARPA’s ambitions are more strategic than cinematic.

“This test obliterated all previously reported optical power beaming demonstrations for power and distance,” declared Paul Jaffe, POWER program manager. Previously, the best effort transmitted just 230 watts over 1.7 kilometers, a far cry from this latest success.

The key to DARPA’s success lies in a new kind of laser receiver, showcased in the POWER Receiver Array Demo (PRAD). Developed by Teravec Technologies with help from Packet Digital and the Rochester Institute of Technology, the compact receiver uses a parabolic mirror to direct the incoming laser light onto a dense cluster of photovoltaic cells. This setup minimizes light loss and converts the beam into usable electricity.

Though promising, the system is still in its infancy. The current focus was to prove the concept, not optimize efficiency. At shorter distances, the PRAD receiver managed just over 20% efficiency in converting laser light into electrical power. However, DARPA hasn’t disclosed how efficient it was at the full 5.3-mile range, likely because the number drops off significantly over long distances.

As it stands, the 800 watts received was just a portion of what was fired, mirroring the familiar fusion energy dilemma: delivering high output at the source doesn’t always translate to practical net energy gains. Still, Jaffe said: “Future receivers would have lighter parts as well as specialized photovoltaic cells optimized for the wavelengths of light we’d be using, which can be more than double or even triple the efficiency of a typical solar cell,” he told The Register.

What’s next? DARPA is preparing to launch Phase 2 of the POWER program, aimed at testing vertical power transmission and integrated relays. An Industry Day event to explore potential partnerships is scheduled later this month, with registration closing on May 21.