Think this is the second time I've seen laser digging methods in the last month. Anyone know what route The Boring Company was/is going down for digging?
Gyrotron, not laser, as per article.
(A gyrotron doesn't seem to be a class of laser, any more than a light bulb is...)
They drill straight down for heat and only use the laser/microwave/whatever once they hit the bedrock layer. Boring conpany generally isn't going that deep and is going horizontal so possibly these techs don't apply.
Yeah, I would say using a high-energy contraption to vaporize rock (and any other stuff that might be in the way) sometimes just a few meters away from utility lines, other tunnels, people's basements etc. is generally not recommended. Plus, for geothermal drillings, the holes are much smaller than for transportation tunnels.