Beam Profile Effects on NPB Performance

Local PDF: ADA344742.pdf

AD Number: ADA344742
Subject Categories: OPTICAL DETECTION AND DETECTORS DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS
Corporate Author: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB NM
Title: Beam Profile Effects on NPB Performance
Personal Authors: LeClaire, R. J., Jr
Report Date: MAR 1988
Pages: 20 PAGES
Report Number: LA-11228-MS
Monitor Acronym: XD
Monitor Series: XD
Descriptors: *BEAMS(RADIATION), *PARTICLE BEAMS, PEAK VALUES, NEUTRAL, TARGETS, BRIGHTNESS, DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS, COLLISIONS, PARTICLE BEAM WEAPONS.
Identifiers: *BEAM PROFILES, NPB(NEUTRAL PARTICLE BEAM), GAUSSIAN PROFILE, BMDO COLLECTION, U02000, ATOM COLLISION
Abstract: A comparison of neutral particle beam brightness for various neutral beam profiles indicates that the widely used assumption of a Gaussian profile may be misleading for collisional neutralizers. An analysis of available experimental evidence shows that lower peaks and higher tails, compared to a Gaussian beam profile, are observed out of collisional neutralizers, which implies that peak brightness is over estimated, and for a given NPB platform-to- target range, the beam current (power), dwell time or some combination of such engagement parameters would have to be altered to maintain a fixed dose on target. Based on the present analysis, this factor is nominally about 2.4 but may actually be as low as 1.8 or as high as 8. This is an important consideration in estimating NPB constellation performance in SDI engagement contexts.
Limitation Code: APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
Source Code: 211350
Citation Creation Date: 17 JUN 1998