LASER-INDUCED INSTABILITIES IN GASES: THERMALLY INDUCED MODIFICATIONS OF A HIGH POWER CW LASER BEAM.

Abstract

The problem of beam induced thermal modifications of a high-powered CW laser beam is considered. The extent and type of modification depend principally upon the nature of the medium (liquid or air), and whether an external flow field is present. These conditions determine the dominant heat loss mechanism operating in the fluid; forced convection, free convection, and diffusion, and thus the beam distortions. All three cases are analysed and figures presented, showing the type of distortion expected as determined within the framework of geometric optics. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1969
Accession Number
AD0703009

Entities

People

  • P. M. Livingston

Organizations

  • The Catholic University of America

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Convection
  • Diffusion
  • Distortion
  • Flow
  • Flow Fields
  • Heat Loss
  • Instability
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Losses

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Combustion and Flow Dynamics.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy