Laser vs. suspensor field

[sopranosfan]

In the book, it is written that a laser/shield interaction may result in a subatomic fusion.

What about a laser entering in contact with a suspensor field? Will the result be the same?

[Khan]

I don't ever recall it being written but I assume it wouldn't have effect (not least because it isn't even mentioned).

[Vanguard3000]

If there was a reaction, it probably would have been mentioned in the book.  Also, in God Emperor:

Duncan shoots a lasgun at Leto II while he's crossing the bridge in his suspensor-lifted platform.

So there.

[Reactor]

This laser-shield problem...why didn't they use plasma rifles or such? Besides, plasma is a lot more effective than lasers (it consumes more energy though)

[TMA_1]

because Frank Herbert decided on Lasers.lol At the time of the making of Dune, L.A.S.E.R. technology was relatively new.

[gunner154]

Agreed. Plasma stuff is more reserved for the really really lofty science fiction stories. I would guess that stuff like Farscape would feature them, but I don't know a thing about that.

[MrFlibble]

I think it was important for Frank to have this laser vs shield balance, that made humans revert from firearms to hand-to-hand combat. This 1) adds to the "futuristic medieval" setting and 2) places emphasis on human achievements (physical training in this case) rather than technological ones (the same is with mentats instead of computers). I believe Frank wanted to emphasize on humans as individuals and as a species rather that focus on futuristic technology as many sci-fi stories do.

[Vanguard3000]

Bingo.

[gunner154]

This should cover it.

http://forum.dune2k.com/index.php?topic=70.0

Credits to Nema Fakei.