How would the Death Star laser really work?

So I went and saw Rogue One recently. Wonderful movie...

If you want absolutely no spoilers STOP READING NOW. The Death Star shoots up a couple planets in the movie. (Not much of a spoiler but still.) They don't poof like Alderaan in episode 4. (They aren't completely destroyed.) In Rogue One the laser hits the planet causing a massive explosion (Looks very similar to an atomic blast.) followed by an eruption of dirt flowing like a tsunami outward destroying everything is sight. Now I think that this is not a very accurate depiction of a planet destroying laser This article seems to confirm my suspicion. And I was curious how an actual planet destroying laser would destroy a planet.

My question is: Assuming we have a laser that has enough energy to destroy a planet (Greater than or equal to 2.24 × 10^32 Joules.) what effects would it have on the planet? What exactly would happen to the planet? Would the laser just super heat the planet liquefy the surface or would the planet actually explode and turn into an small asteroid field?

Here are some things that might narrow down the situation just in case this question is too broad.

• The planet we are shooting is Earth.
• The laser is just an extremely, extremely powerful laser there is nothing special or unique about it. (No Kyber crystal fuel.) It doesn't matter how it works it just does.
• The definition of destroyed is very vague. However if you have seen the death star in action you should have an understanding of what destroyed means. The planet should no longer be considered a planet after the laser has done it's job.

posted almost 8 years ago

X_Wera‭

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