On Sat, 23 Aug 2008 00:18:25 -0400, with neither quill nor qualm,
Joseph Gwinn quickly quoth:

In article
,
Bob wrote:

OK, but it is fair to note that the constant of proportionality is
very small for a well-collimated laser. As opposed to 1 for point
source incoherent light. It is more accurate to say "laser beams are
subject to **an** inverse square law", rather than **the** inverse
square law (constant of proportionality = 1) that applies to point-
sources.

No, it's really *the* inverse square law. All forms of radiation follow
this; the effect is geometric. Lasers focus their energy into a narrow
beam, but that beam nonetheless spreads.

Think of this example. Starlight is almost parallel when it reaches us,
yet it is incoherent and most certainly follows the inverse square law.

Stars are just possibly a _wee_ bit farther than the vulnerable 200
mile (or 22,000, geo) satellite orbits we were discussing, Joe.

--
Smokey the Bear's rules for fire safety should apply to government:
Keep it small, keep it in a confined area, and keep an eye on it.
--John Stossel in _Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity_