Ultrafast Passive Shields for Laser and Ballistic Protection
Abstract
Addressing the need for laser eye protection in the Visible spectral region, the present work sought to demonstrate the applicability of a novel technology for dynamic, broad-band, ultrafast (sub-ns), passive laser shields based on conducting polymers (CPs) and inorganic semiconductor (SC) materials in a matrix to a wider range of SCs and CPs. Effective laser shielding was clearly demonstrated to occur for a number of varied systems, including Bi2S3 with poly(N-phenyl-2-naphthyl amine), poly(2-vinyl naphthalene), poly(9-vinyl carbazole), CdS with poly(2-naphthyl amine), Te with poly(N-phenyl-2-naphthyl amine) and others. The laser shielding was shown to be a cumulative effect of three complementary phenomena: the intrinsic nonlinear optical (NLO) effect in the CP, the intrinsic NLO effect in the SC, when present, and SC to CP charge transfer. Independent transient absorption (TA) studies showed switching to be broad-band, with risetimes in the sub-ns region, limited by instrumental measurement, and falltimes in the tens of ns. Laser shielding efficiency, characterized by Delta OD = OD(under laser) - OD(rest), of greater than 1.0 at 532 nm were achieved for a number of systems at incident energies of ca. 0.25 MJ/pulse. Matrices of SCs and CPs in PVA and PEMA, and coatings on polycarbonate sheets and lenses and diamond-like-coated polycarbonate showed good laser shielding efficiency. The prognosis is for incorporation of the SCs and CPs exclusively into polycarbonate matrices or substrates for ballistic protection combined with laser shielding.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 15, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA243206