One possibility is that beams tuned to a particular frequency, or with a certain interference pattern are able to selectively excite target molecules, reversing the polarity and liberating the chemical bond energy that is already present.
Chemical bond energy is energy that is "liberated" (made available) when the chemical bonds
form. Breaking chemical bonds, in other words, costs energy, it doesn't liberate energy. That's why we call a stronger chemical bond "stronger," because it takes more energy to break it. "Liberating chemical bond energy by breaking bonds" makes no more sense than "liberating gravitational potential energy by raising heavy weights higher."
However, if the military has discovered a way of reversing this rule, and thereby liberating energy by breaking chemical bonds, then
all the world's energy problems are solved. Since we already know how to get energy by forming stronger chemical bonds (such as, by combining hydrogen and oxygen into H20), and now they've figured out how to get energy by breaking chemical bonds, unlimited free energy is now available. Even if the dustification mechanism doesn't release any usable energy, even if all it does is reduce the energy needed to break chemical bonds, it still amounts to unlimited free energy over the whole cycle.
A second possibility is that said energy beam is able to liberate nuclear energy, converting mass to energy according to E=mc^2. In both cases, a relatively small energy input can yeild a huge energy output.
Hooray! This possibility solves the world's energy problems too! Direct mass to energy conversion. Nuclear energy without radiation. Levitating cities, personal jet-cars, Mars bases, thermostats at 75 degrees F all winter, basement lights that don't even need off switches, here we come!
A third possibiity is that the 19th century scientists were right about the aether after all, and that all of the universe is seething in free energy, and "they" have figured out a way to make use of it.
Even better still! Free energy without any messy chemical bond rearranging or nuclear reactions, just a gift from a generous universe! Thank goodness we didn't believe those depressing 20th century scientists with their silly equations and useless "semiconductors" and absurd "atomic clocks" and ridiculous "lasers" and preposterous "microwaves" and all the other worthless stuff they claimed to invent based on those so-called "laws of physics."
Now, please explain why this new source of unlimited energy has, so far, only been used to fake an attack to justify a war to steal oil, oil which of course is about to become completely worthless. That makes about as much sense as inventing a time machine, and using it only to return overdue library books without paying the fine.
Respectfully,
Myriad
