We have all had visions of future systems that look like something out of Star Wars or Star Trek and today the technology is available to make plasma cannons and laser guns. However there is a necessary technology we do not have; adequate power. The batteries and generators we have are not powerful enough to power these high-tech weapons.
So the question of the year is; How can a compact and powerful generator be made?

Vehicle-based systems are now. Possibly deployed in a few years. The handheld stuff, that's another story.

well really there is only a few options one is fussion but its not small... for battle ships and such.... the other is fuel cells dont need charging just top up there Hydrogan tank...

as for laser weapons for men to carry i would say this will help out with that

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/27mar_stoplight.htm

charge up a gun at base go out and fry people come back recharge... easy symple....

this would also open up the use of a orbital laser cannon have it store up laser light for a day or so then dump all the light out at once... so you dont need to have a 500 KW laser just need a 50kw that charges up over time...

they have also proven the fact that lasers can be used to set of H-bombs but the structure needed to make it work is to masive to use in a bomb but if you used the laser pausing ablity of the above link then released it when ever you wanted... and Bang low rad H-bomb... nuke anything you want and in 10 years you can go back.... easy simple nice....

really what we need is somthing like a fuel cell thats on crack.... but tell we figure that out we will will just have to wait and see..