Laser Safety Summary of the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure (LAIRCM) Viper Laser, Phase 1

Abstract

To assess the ocular and skin hazards associated with exposure to the LAIRCM Viper laser and recommend laser safety precautions for system use. ASC/GRI recently arranged for AFRL/HEDO to evaluate a LAIRCM Viper laser. This laser was evaluated by a joint Air Force and Navy team during 18-20 February at the Northrop Grumman facility located in Rolling Meadows, IL. The activities performed include measurements of average output power/pulse energy, beam divergence, laser beam diameter near the output aperture, wavelengths, and pulse characteristics. The results of these measurements are classified and will be published as a consultative letter (CL) at a later date. This CL provides an unclassified laser safety summary to include Maximum Permissible Exposures (MPEs), Nominal Ocular Hazard Distances (NOHDs) for unaided and aided (binocular) viewing, as well as required eye protection Optical Densities (ODs), which are calculated in accordance with ANSIZ136.1 -2000 American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers. Results of this CL will also be forwarded to AFMOA/SGZR for Laser System Safety Review Board consideration.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 06, 2003
Accession Number
ADB348439

Entities

People

  • Robert Aldrich
  • Tracie Connor
  • Victor Villavicencio
  • Wallace Mitchell

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Research Laboratories
  • Classification
  • Countermeasures
  • Detection
  • Directional Infrared Countermeasures
  • Infrared Countermeasures
  • Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures
  • Laser Beams
  • Laser Safety
  • Lasers
  • Military Research
  • Optics
  • Radiation
  • Standards
  • System Safety
  • Tanker Aircraft

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers