Experimental Damage Studies for a Free Electron Laser Weapon

Experimental Damage Studies for a Free Electron Laser Weapon PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 59

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Book Description
Laser material damage experiments for this thesis were the first ever conducted at the new DoE Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) free electron laser (FEL) user laboratory. In the past only large-scale laser experiments were thought to properly model weapons applications. Experimental procedures developed in this thesis allowed a scaled-down laser of a few hundred Watts to characterize the damage from a weapon-scale one million Watt laser. The TJNAF FEL has the power of a microwave oven concentrated into a beam the size of a pencil lead. The unique TJNAF FEL beam bombards the target with a steady stream of tens of millions of pulses per second each containing 50 million Watts of power in a short burst of 4 x 10(exp -13) seconds. No other laser combines these characteristics, and no experiments have previously been done to explore the effects of the FEL pulse. Target materials were obtained from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and from Naval Surface Warfare Division (NSWD) Port Hueneme. Data were collected and analyzed using video cameras, optical microscopes and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This thesis has been a productive cooperation among NPS, TJNAF, NRL, and NSWD Port Hueneme, to the benefit of DoD.

Experimental Damage Studies for a Free Electron Laser Weapon

Experimental Damage Studies for a Free Electron Laser Weapon PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 59

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Book Description
Laser material damage experiments for this thesis were the first ever conducted at the new DoE Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) free electron laser (FEL) user laboratory. In the past only large-scale laser experiments were thought to properly model weapons applications. Experimental procedures developed in this thesis allowed a scaled-down laser of a few hundred Watts to characterize the damage from a weapon-scale one million Watt laser. The TJNAF FEL has the power of a microwave oven concentrated into a beam the size of a pencil lead. The unique TJNAF FEL beam bombards the target with a steady stream of tens of millions of pulses per second each containing 50 million Watts of power in a short burst of 4 x 10(exp -13) seconds. No other laser combines these characteristics, and no experiments have previously been done to explore the effects of the FEL pulse. Target materials were obtained from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and from Naval Surface Warfare Division (NSWD) Port Hueneme. Data were collected and analyzed using video cameras, optical microscopes and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This thesis has been a productive cooperation among NPS, TJNAF, NRL, and NSWD Port Hueneme, to the benefit of DoD.

Experimental Damage Studies for a Free Electron Laser Weapon

Experimental Damage Studies for a Free Electron Laser Weapon PDF Author: Robert W. Thomson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 59

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Book Description
Laser material damage experiments for this thesis were the first ever conducted at the new DoE Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) free electron laser (FEL) user laboratory. In the past only large-scale laser experiments were thought to properly model weapons applications. Experimental procedures developed in this thesis allowed a scaled-down laser of a few hundred Watts to characterize the damage from a weapon-scale one million Watt laser. The TJNAF FEL has the power of a microwave oven concentrated into a beam the size of a pencil lead. The unique TJNAF FEL beam bombards the target with a steady stream of tens of millions of pulses per second each containing 50 million Watts of power in a short burst of 4 x 10(exp -13) seconds. No other laser combines these characteristics, and no experiments have previously been done to explore the effects of the FEL pulse. Target materials were obtained from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and from Naval Surface Warfare Division (NSWD) Port Hueneme. Data were collected and analyzed using video cameras, optical microscopes and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This thesis has been a productive cooperation among NPS, TJNAF, NRL, and NSWD Port Hueneme, to the benefit of DoD.

Damage Produced by the Free Electron Laser

Damage Produced by the Free Electron Laser PDF Author: Lee R. Short
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423553229
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 70

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Book Description
The first damage experiments produced by a Free Electron Laser were conducted at the Department of Energy's Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF). In the past, only large scale laser experiments were thought to properly model lasers for weapons applications. Scaled down procedures developed in this thesis allowed the FEL, with a few hundred watts of power, to characterize the damage produced by a megawatt weapon's scale laser. With a power density of 10 kW/cm2, the TJNAF FEL bombards targets with a steady stream of tens of millions of pulses per second. Each pulse contains 50 MW of power in short bursts lasting 4 x 10.14 seconds each. No previous laser experiments have been conducted to explore the effects of the FEL short pulses. Target materials were obtained from the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Port Hueneme. Data were collected and analyzed using video cameras and optical microscopes, and irradiated at TJNAF. This thesis was a productive cooperation between NPS, TJNAF, and NSWC Port Hueneme, to the benefit of DOD.

Scientific Assessment of High-Power Free-Electron Laser Technology

Scientific Assessment of High-Power Free-Electron Laser Technology PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309177545
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 67

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Book Description
This book presents a scientific assessment of free-electron-laser technology for naval applications. The charge from the Office of Naval Research was to assess whether the desired performance capabilities are achievable or whether fundamental limitations will prevent them from being realized. The present study identifies the highest-priority scientific and technical issues that must be resolved along the development path to achieve a megawatt-class free-electron laser. In accordance with the charge, the committee considered (and briefly describes) trade-offs between free-electron lasers and other types of lasers and weapon systems to show the advantages free-electron lasers offer over other types of systems for naval applications as well as their drawbacks. The primary advantages of free-electron lasers are associated with their energy delivery at the speed of light, selectable wavelength, and all-electric nature, while the trade-offs for free-electron lasers are their size, complexity, and relative robustness. Also, Despite the significant technical progress made in the development of high-average-power free-electron lasers, difficult technical challenges remain to be addressed in order to advance from present capability to megawatt-class power levels.

Free Electron Laser Material Damage Studies

Free Electron Laser Material Damage Studies PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 110

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Book Description
Today's surface ships are faced with an increased vulnerability to anti-ship cruise missiles, due to a change from operating in open oceans to primarily operating in the world's littorals. One possible solution to counter this threat is the use of a high-energy laser to destroy the missiles in flight. The Free Electron Laser is possibly the best choice of lasers for a marine environment since its wavelength can be changed over a wide range allowing the operator to choose the best wavelength to transmit through the atmosphere. Material damage studies on various anti-ship cruise missile materials were carried out at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) in Newport News, Virginia. Experimental procedures presented in this report allow a scaled down laser of a few hundred to a few thousand watts to evaluate the damage from a weapon size laser of the megawatt class. The EEL beam bombards the target with a steady stream of picosecond length pulses at rates of 18MHz or greater. No other experiments have previously been done to explore the effects of the EEL pulse on materials. This report contains the work of several theses conducted at the Naval Postgraduate School over the past two years, and has been a productive cooperation among NPS, TJNAF, NRL, and NSWD at Port Hueneme, to the benefit of the Department of Defense.

Free Electron Laser Material Damage Studies

Free Electron Laser Material Damage Studies PDF Author: R. D. McGinnis
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423533078
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 110

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Book Description
Today's surface ships are faced with an increased vulnerability to anti-ship cruise missiles, due to a change from operating in open oceans to primarily operating in the world's littorals. One possible solution to counter this threat is the use of a high-energy laser to destroy the missiles in flight. The Free Electron Laser is possibly the best choice of lasers for a marine environment since its wavelength can be changed over a wide range allowing the operator to choose the best wavelength to transmit through the atmosphere. Material damage studies on various anti-ship cruise missile materials were carried out at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) in Newport News, Virginia. Experimental procedures presented in this report allow a scaled down laser of a few hundred to a few thousand watts to evaluate the damage from a weapon size laser of the megawatt class. The EEL beam bombards the target with a steady stream of picosecond length pulses at rates of 18MHz or greater. No other experiments have previously been done to explore the effects of the EEL pulse on materials. This report contains the work of several theses conducted at the Naval Postgraduate School over the past two years, and has been a productive cooperation among NPS, TJNAF, NRL, and NSWD at Port Hueneme, to the benefit of the Department of Defense.

TJNAF Free Electron Laser Damage Studies

TJNAF Free Electron Laser Damage Studies PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Laser material damage experiments were conducted at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) free electron laser (FEL) user laboratorywith an average power of 100W and a power density of 104W/cm2. The FEL beam bombards the target with a steady stream of tens of millions of pulses persecond each containing 50MW of power in a short burst of ~1ps. No conventional laser combines these characteristics, and no experiments have previouslybeen done to explore the effects of the FEL pulse. The goal is to develop scaling laws to accurately describe large-scale damage from a MW FEL usingsmall-scale experiments.

Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports

Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aeronautics
Languages : en
Pages : 464

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Book Description


FY ... US Air Force Plan for Defense Research Sciences

FY ... US Air Force Plan for Defense Research Sciences PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Aeronautics, Military
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description


Simulations of the TJNAF Free Electron Laser with a Negative Taper and Laser Damage Studies

Simulations of the TJNAF Free Electron Laser with a Negative Taper and Laser Damage Studies PDF Author: Adamantios Christodoulou
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781423532866
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 111

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Book Description
The Free Electron Laser (FEL) is a candidate for a future close-in weapon system that will provide a longer protective range for missile destruction. The FEL is also tunable to wavelengths that would give good atmospheric transmission and optimal target absorption characteristics at the target. This thesis describes single-mode and multimode simulation results of the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF) FEL operating at far infrared wavelengths. The TJNAF FEL uses inverse tapering and is driven by 34.5 MeV and 47.5 MeV energy electron pulses. Steady-state power, weak-field steady state gain, electron beam energy spread and optical spectrum widths were explored as a function of the desyncinonism and tapering rate. The simulations described FEL pulse evolution and short pulse effects. The simulation results have been presented at an International Conference held at Duke University, Durham, NC in August 2000. in addition, the results of damage to Slip-cast Fused Silica samples by the TJNAF FEL, with and without the effect of airflow are analyzed. A comparison with older damage experiments was done in order to develop scaling rules in the future.