@TheTempest
They are the same, a Phoenix pattern works the best, GoL spawn at high temperature and cool down rapidly, a Phoenix pattern is one where every cell dies but the collective group never dies, this pattern ensures that all cells will always be at high temperature. For information on patterns ask Cracker64, he is an expert at it and coded it in. Also Catelite, Andrewdavidloftus, AntB and Annmol444 all have made very powerful lasers.

@TheTempest
You are welcome. I'm surprised that none of the people I mentioned commented yet since that is their field of specialty, not mine. Good luck.

PS: Most lasers now use GoL, the slight loss of heat output is made up by it's non-existent heat drain. Also now lasers are judged by power, beam density and size (the smaller, the better). You should see AntB's death ray, it is massive, dense and it has a beam with no gaps and is the current pinacle of power