Name:  Laser Heat Sink
Type (Category):  Heat Sink (Core)
Reference:  Tactical Operations: Advanced Units & Equipment (p. 128)

Description:
Advanced heat distribution systems have long diminished the vicious cycle of waste heat accumulated by combat units and the energy required to contain the waste’s effects, but there has always been room for improvement. While double heat sinks are more efficient, they are space-consuming. Various innovations hope to fill the needs that still linger between double and regular heat sinks.

The bane of misinformed Inner Sphere physics professors, Clan “laser heat sinks” seemingly violate the laws of thermodynamics by efficiently converting diffuse heat into concentrated laser light that is then ported out of the unit. The overlooked aspect of laser heat sinks is that they are not powered by the heat they are removing (which would be thermodynamically impossible), but by a separate power source (either the unit’s engine or emergency batteries in the heat sink). This exotic refrigeration system is somewhat heavier than those of conventional heat sinks, but the elimination of traditional heat sink radiators and large reservoirs of caustic or flammable coolants allows laser heat sinks to match traditional Clan double heat sinks in performance.

One disadvantage of the system is that laser heat sinks function as a “’Kick Me’ sign” during combat in darkness because of the bright light emitted from the heat sink ports.

Game Rules:
Laser Heat Sinks function as standard Double Heat Sinks, but the reduction in hot coolant inside the ’Mech reduces the chance of ammunition explosions due to heat, translating to a +1 bonus on rolls to avoid heat-induced ammunition explosions. If the ’Mech takes any action in a turn that generates heat (movement, firing weapons and so on), the night combat or dusk modifier for shots against it is reduced by 1, whether or not the heat is dissipated by the sinks. If the ’Mech’s overheats at all (its heat scale rises above 0), night or dusk modifiers no longer apply to any attacks against the unit.

BattleMechs

Prototype Date:	~3040
Production Date:	3051
Extinction Date:	—
Recovery Date:	—

WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT COMBAT AND CONSTRUCTION TABLE * See rules for this equipment

RULES LEVEL PROGRESSION TABLE
MegaMek Output → Critical Slot:  Laser Heat Sink
Record Sheet Output → Critical Slot:  Laser Heat Sink