Diffraction Effects in Directed Radiation Beams

Abstract

A number of proposed applications of electromagnetic waves require that the radiation beam maintain a high intensity over an appreciable propagation distance. These applications include, among others, power beaming, advanced radar, laser acceleration of particles and directed-energy sources. The quest to achieve these objectives has led to a resurgence of research on diffraction theory. This report presents a survey and critique of the analyses and experimental tests of solutions of the wave equation in connection with so- called diffractionless and other directed radiation beams. The examples discussed in this paper include electromagnetic missiles, Bessel beams, electromagnetic directed energy pulse trains, and electromagnetic bullets. Electromagnetic wave propagation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 03, 1990
Accession Number
ADA220785

Entities

People

  • Bahman Hafizi
  • Phillip A. Sprangle

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Diffraction
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Equations
  • Far Field
  • Frequency
  • Laser Beams
  • Military Research
  • Optical Lattices
  • Particles
  • Physics
  • Plane Waves
  • Power Spectra
  • Radiation
  • Two Dimensional
  • Wave Equations
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy