Atmospheric Propagation Simulations and Boeing's High Average Power Free Electron Laser.

Abstract

The development of a high average power FEL for military applications, whether shipboard or not, represents a significant advancement in technology over present weapons systems design. The FEL has significant advantages over conventional kinetic systems and other classical high-energy laser systems. The rapid response, wavelength tunability, and infinite magazine make the FEL a highly desirable shipboard weapon system. The initial pan of this thesis examines the advantages of a FEL over a conventional kinetic weapon. Section II explores the atmospheric phenomenan that affects the propagation of a laser beam enroute to its target. Section III presents the Boeing FEL proposal followed by the theory of the FEL. Lastly, in Sections V, VI, simulations are conducted to analyze the FEL's feasibility.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA305947

Entities

People

  • Luis Ramos

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Electrons
  • Free Electron Lasers
  • Free Electrons
  • High Energy
  • High Energy Lasers
  • Laser Beams
  • Lasers
  • Military Applications
  • Shipboard
  • Simulations
  • Systems Engineering
  • Weapon Systems
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Strategic Security Studies

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics