Impact of Target Altitude Restrictions on Laser Performance

Local PDF: ADA344672.pdf

AD Number: ADA344672
Subject Categories: LASERS AND MASERS ANTIMISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS
Corporate Author: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB NM
Title: Impact of Target Altitude Restrictions on Laser Performance
Personal Authors: Canavan, Gregory H.
Report Date: JAN 1989
Pages: 13 PAGES
Report Number: LA-11382-MS
Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
Monitor Acronym: XD
Monitor Series: BMDO
Descriptors: *PULSED LASERS, *FREE ELECTRON LASERS, *AERIAL TARGETS, *LASER TARGET INTERACTIONS, LIGHT SCATTERING, ANTIMISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS, GUIDED MISSILE TRAJECTORIES, LASER BEAMS, RAMAN SPECTRA, LASER TARGETS.
Identifiers: BMDO COLLECTION, U02183
Abstract: This report estimates the impact of Raman restrictions and shielding penalties separately and together. Its goal is an overall assessment of likely impact rather than a review of the details of missile trajectories, Raman physics, and shielding techniques, whose individual treatments matter less than their overall integration. Raman scattering could produce a factor of 2-3 reduction on the performance of repetitive pulse lasers with large fluences in each small pulse. Radiofrequency free electron lasers (RF FELs), which have more frequent pulses with less energy in each, are impacted less. Shielding gives an independent penalty of about a factor of 2, but the combined effect of altitude and shielding penalizes lasers with large pulses by factors of 3-10. Those factors are significantly larger than any other factors differentiating between the two types of FELs.
Limitation Code: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Source Code: 211350
Citation Creation Date: 10 JUN 1998