A G.A.S.E.R. is Gamma Amplification by Stimulated EmiSsion. If a parallel coherent beam of Gamma ray energy could be made and directed, its effect would be, on contact with matter, to cause the splitting of nuclei and thus the destruction of matter by transmutation and vapourisation.
The method proposed is a bar of pure cobalt metal illuminated by a high energy x-ray source. The 100KeV X-rays would pump up the cobalt into an excited state by a series of low energy transitions inside the cobalt nuclei thus producing an inverted population resulting in a single transition to the ground state emmiting a high energy gamma ray photon. The Einstien effect makes by GASER action a coherent gamma-ray beam.
This could then be used to make holes in things, possibly for drilling or blasting.
Chris.
PS second thoughts with a practical device.