Here is a neat little idea to justify the steampunk-ish laser revolver you see sometimes in sci-fi. I’m down for this since I’ve always wanted to be a space cowboy:
(via: Geeky Glam Gamer)
Idea for a Science Fiction Laser Revolver
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Another option would be actual cartridges of electrically-stimulated chemical lasers. Two gases in a “bullet” would be inert until excited by an electrical current. The gases then react with each other to produce the laser pulse. The majority of the energy put into the laser beam comes from the chemical reaction; the electrical pulse merely triggers the reaction, much like a detonator sets off an explosive. So you get a powerpack in the handle (or a tiny, one-use powerpack included in the cartridge!), and you have “laser bullets.” You even have to reload!
If you don’t want to have to reload, a chemical excimer laser might be another way to go. Each of the chambers may need a cool-down period for the lasing element to return to its ground state, making a revolver a reasonable method for increasing the rate of fire.