Solid State Laser News

[publiusr]

Focusing news

Focusing ultra-intense lasers to a single wavelength

Ultra-intense ultrashort lasers are powerful tools used in various fields like physics, national security, industry, and health care. They help researchers delve into strong-field laser physics, laser-driven radiation sources, particle acceleration, and more.

phys.org

Old crystal, new story for enhancing deep ultraviolet laser performance

In the realm of science and technology, harnessing coherent light sources in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) region holds immense significance across various applications such as lithography, defect inspection, metrology, and spectroscopy. Traditionally, high-power 193-nanometer (nm) lasers have been...

phys.org

Mini lasers

Micro-Lisa: Making a mark with novel nano-scale laser writing

High-power lasers are often used to modify polymer surfaces to make high-tech biomedical products, electronics and data storage components.

phys.org

Researchers identify new method to boost laser processing resolution

Focusing a tailored laser beam through transparent glass can create a tiny spot inside the material. Researchers at Tohoku University have reported on a way to use this small spot to improve laser material processing, boosting processing resolution.

phys.org

Light stands still in a deformed crystal

AMOLF researchers, in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, have succeeded in bringing light waves to a halt by deforming the two-dimensional photonic crystal that contains them. The researchers show that even a subtle deformation can have a substantial effect on photons in the...

phys.org

 

[WatcherZero]

Defence Secretary saying Dragonfire entry into service has been accelerated from 2032 to 2027 but they would look to see whether they could rush it into service in Ukraine. The new technology development approach is to not wait until kit is 99.9% effective but to get it into the field when its about 70% done and continue to improve it in service.

DragonFire: The new British military laser that shoots down drones

The DragonFire weapon will work by using an intense beam of light to cut through its target. It is now expected to be ready for deployment by 2027 at the latest.

news.sky.com

 

[Cordy]

It appears US Army has its doubts on lasers and wants realistic testing to prove they will actually work operationally in practice not just in the lab.

Army guts $4.8 billion from IFPC-HEL in new five-year plan, focuses on 'try' before 'buy' | InsideDefense.com

The Army has cut $4.8 billion from planned future spending on the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High Energy Laser in the service's new five-year spending plan, a dramatic reduction that removes future funding stability for a cruise-missile-killer-and-more project that a key service...

insidedefense.com

 

[WatcherZero]

That was the Lockheed Martin program to scale a 100kw laser to 300kw wasnt it? Though that program was only $700m to procure four 300kw lasers and $4bn on microwave weapons, if they have axed $4bn from the budget it must be the microwave part of it being axed.

 

[Cordy]

That was the Lockheed Martin program to scale a 100kw laser to 300kw wasnt it? Though that program was only $700m to procure four 300kw lasers and $4bn on microwave weapons, if they have axed $4bn from the budget it must be the microwave part of it being axed.

I find that hard to believe as insidedefense.com write up explicity refers to "High Energy Lasers" and by far the majority of funding has always been devoted to lasers and not microwaves. Does anyone have ref to the figures quoted by insidedefense.com?

PS If remember correctly did not General Atomics and Boeing as well as Dynamics and Lockheed win contracts for higher powered lasers plus funding to develop an ultrashort pulse laser (USPL) system.

 

[Forest Green]

I find that hard to believe as insidedefense.com write up explicity refers to "High Energy Lasers" and by far the majority of funding has always been devoted to lasers and not microwaves. Does anyone have ref to the figures quoted by insidedefense.com?

PS If remember correctly did not General Dynamics and Boeing as well as Dynamics and Lockheed win contracts for higher powered lasers plus funding to develop an ultrashort pulse laser (USPL) system.

https://www.nre.navy.mil/organization/departments/aviation-force-projection-and-integrated-defense/aerospace-science-research-351/directed-energy-weapons-uspl-and-atmospheric-characterization

I assume it will be a series of pulses, because 1TW for 200fs is only 0.2J.

US Army Set to Make Quantum Leap With Ultra-Short Pulse Laser Tech

The US Army has begun soliciting developers to build a laser weapon system that emits an ultra-short burst of highly intense energy to destroy targets.

www.thedefensepost.com

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1782563066644713743

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1782563066644713743

 

[Cordy]

My simplistic view is if you have a 300kW electric motor and the laser is 40% efficient ??? in converting the electric power into laser beam power that means you have to dissipate the remaining 180kW as heat, not simple, so perhaps why below regarded as so important.

DOD makes new bet on missile defense laser cooling technology | InsideDefense.com

The Defense Department is placing a bet on new laser-cooling technology for missile defense capabilities that carries such promise that the Pentagon will not disclose the company associated with the $11 million contract award.

insidedefense.com

 

[Forest Green]

My simplistic view is if you have a 300kW electric motor and the laser is 40% efficient ??? in converting the electric power into laser beam power that means you have to dissipate the remaining 180kW as heat, not simple, so perhaps why below regarded as so important.

DOD makes new bet on missile defense laser cooling technology | InsideDefense.com

The Defense Department is placing a bet on new laser-cooling technology for missile defense capabilities that carries such promise that the Pentagon will not disclose the company associated with the $11 million contract award.

insidedefense.com

Interesting:

“One of the companies that is receiving [AFPIT funding] is a small company that is building a phase modulator that will decrease the amount of cooling required for fiber lasers by 50%,” Shyu said on April 17. “Think about that.”

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1784047768316600550

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1784047768316600550

 

[Forest Green]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1784198845343166592

View: https://x.com/AirPowerNEW1/status/1784198845343166592

 

[li zhuo peng]

Laser Cannon, Energy Field Shield? Wow,So science fiction, I have a question.------

Can this laser Cannon of USA puncture the energy field shield of a space ship?

 

[Forest Green]

Laser Cannon, Energy Field Shield? Wow,So science fiction, I have a question.------

Can this laser Cannon of USA puncture the energy field shield of a space ship?

No, it only works on Tu-22Ms so far.

 

[Rhinocrates]

RN is very happy with Dragonfire/concerned by Houthis, and accelerating plans for deplyment.

DragonFire laser accelerated to equip British warships

The UK DragonFire laser programme – led by MBDA, with partners Leonardo UK and QinetiQ – is accelerating following a decision from the Ministry of Defence to install the weapon system on Royal Navy ships.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

Multiple British warships to get laser guns

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed its commitment to outfitting multiple Royal Navy ships with the DragonFire Laser Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) by 2027.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

 

[MihoshiK]

...This damned timeline. Back when I was growing up you read science fiction stories that had laser cannons in them, and hackers that carried cyberdecks that connected to computers all over the world, and read comics that had rockets launching AND landing on their tails.

And now everyone carries a cyberdeck in their back pocket, rockets launch AND land on their tails, and the military is getting laser cannons.

The future is here.

 

[bobbymike]

...This damned timeline. Back when I was growing up you read science fiction stories that had laser cannons in them, and hackers that carried cyberdecks that connected to computers all over the world, and read comics that had rockets launching AND landing on their tails.

And now everyone carries a cyberdeck in their back pocket, rockets launch AND land on their tails, and the military is getting laser cannons.

The future is here.

Just need nuclear fusion power and it’s the quadfecta

 

[Grey Havoc]

Don't forget SDI and other orbital defence systems properly resurrected.

 

[Cordy]

USNI News May3

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) took the Navy to task for cutting its request for directed-energy research and development from $181 million to $55 million, which he said made no sense. “Budgets are policy,” he said when Guertin mentioned experiments the Navy was making in the field.

 

[bcredman]

Additional $1.2BN funding for Israel's laser-based ‘Iron Beam’ system adds to momentum in directed energy weapons.

Defense demand to drive nLight recovery

Additional $1.2BN funding for Israel's laser-based ‘Iron Beam’ system adds to momentum in directed energy weapons.

optics.org

 

[jsport]

Lidar: Another emerging technology brought to you by China

Opinion: More must be done to safeguard U.S. data and prevent dependence on geopolitical adversaries for a critical, emerging technology.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Cordy]

May 16

Army soldiers not impressed with Strykers outfitted with 50-kilowatt lasers, service official says - Breaking Defense

“They will tell you everything and they're not worried about your feelings,” said Doug Bush.

breakingdefense.com

Mentions heat dissapation amongst other issues with the Stryker 50 kW DE M-SHORAD and questioning if it can achieve the spec? of 4 kW on one sq cm at 10 km target.

 

[Forest Green]

May 16

Army soldiers not impressed with Strykers outfitted with 50-kilowatt lasers, service official says - Breaking Defense

“They will tell you everything and they're not worried about your feelings,” said Doug Bush.

breakingdefense.com

Mentions heat dissapation amongst other issues with the Stryker 50 kW DE M-SHORAD and questioning if it can achieve the spec? of 4 kW on one sq cm at 10 km target.

50kW was never enough for 10km. Early studies indicated that more like 1MW was required. 50kW is strictly a 2-2.5km affair.

 

[jsport]

UK reveals development of low cost Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon - Breaking Defense

The new weapon system, beams radio waves to “disrupt or damage” electronic equipment of enemy vehicles “causing them to stop in their tracks or fall out of the sky,” according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

breakingdefense.com

 

[publiusr]

Laser tech

Smaller laser facility uses new method to exceed previous record for proton acceleration

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) has made a significant advance in laser plasma acceleration. By employing an innovative method, a research team managed to substantially exceed the previous record for proton acceleration.

phys.org

Researchers elucidate ultrafast laser-induced solid-to-overdense-plasma transitions

The interaction of solids with high-intensity ultra-short laser pulses has enabled major technological breakthroughs over the past half-century. On the one hand, laser ablation of solids offers micromachining and miniaturization of elements in medical or telecommunication devices. On the other...

phys.org

Optics

Physicists create optical component for 6G

A joint team of physicists from Skoltech, MIPT, and ITMO developed an optical component that helps manage the properties of a terahertz beam and split it into several channels. The new device can be used as a modulator and generator of terahertz vortex beams in medicine, 6G communications, and...

phys.org

Single pixel imaging enabled by fiber laser arrays is expected to achieve remote detection

Single-pixel imaging (SPI) is a novel computational imaging technique that has been widely studied in recent years. This technique only uses a single pixel detector without spatial resolution to obtain the spatial information of the target.

phys.org

New optical tweezers can trap large and irregularly shaped particles

Researchers have developed new optical tweezers that can stably trap particles that are large—about 0.1 mm—and irregularly shaped. While conventional optical tweezers use highly focused laser beams to trap micro- or nano-scale rod shaped or spherical particles, the advance could expand...

phys.org

Scientists create an 'optical conveyor belt' for quasiparticles

Using interference between two lasers, a research group led by scientists from RIKEN and NTT Research have created an "optical conveyor belt" that can move polaritons—a type of light-matter hybrid particle—in semiconductor-based microcavities. This work could lead to the development of new...

phys.org

Optical power evolution in fiber-optic networks: New framework for better modeling and control

With the emergence of internet services such as AI-generated content and virtual reality, the demand for global capacity has surged, significantly intensifying pressures on fiber-optic communication systems. To address this surge and reduce operational costs, efforts are underway to develop...

phys.org

Researchers realize multiphoton electron emission with non-classical light

Strong field quantum optics is a rapidly emerging research topic, which merges elements of non-linear photoemission rooted in strong field physics with the well-established realm of quantum optics. While the distribution of light particles (i.e., photons) has been widely documented both in...

phys.org

Ion irradiation offers promise for 2D material probing

Two-dimensional materials such as graphene promise to form the basis of incredibly small and fast technologies, but this requires a detailed understanding of their electronic properties. New research demonstrates that fast electronic processes can be probed by irradiating the materials with ions...

phys.org

Researchers develop world's smallest quantum light detector on a silicon chip

Researchers at the University of Bristol have made an important breakthrough in scaling quantum technology by integrating the world's tiniest quantum light detector onto a silicon chip. The paper, "A Bi-CMOS electronic photonic integrated circuit quantum light detector," was published in Science...

phys.org

Using DNA origami, researchers create diamond lattice for future semiconductors of visible light

The shimmering of butterfly wings in bright colors does not emerge from pigments. Rather, photonic crystals are responsible for the play of colors. Their periodic nanostructure allows light at certain wavelengths to pass through while reflecting other wavelengths. This causes the wing scales...

phys.org

A golden layer unlocks sharper imaging and faster scanning with X-rays

Scientists have made a breakthrough in significantly improving the sharpness of X-ray imaging and potentially boosting the speeds at which X-ray scans can be processed. This lays the groundwork for both better medical imaging and faster security clearance.

phys.org

Engineering a new color palette for single-molecule imaging

Researchers often study biomolecules such as proteins or amino acids by chemically attaching a "fluorophore," a sensitive molecule that absorbs and re-emits energy from light.

phys.org

Eyes of tomorrow: Smart contact lenses lead the way for human-machine interaction

Scientists from Nanjing, China, have developed eye-tracking smart content lenses based on radio frequency tags that can be used for various applications, including health care and augmented reality (AR). The lenses are biocompatible and imperceptible, requiring no battery or conventional silicon...

techxplore.com

Researchers achieve ultra-high-Q free space coupling to microtoroid resonators

Scientists from the University of Arizona have achieved far-field coupling of light to ultra-high quality factor microtoroids using a single objective lens. This could provide the foundation for a fully on-chip multiplexed microtoroid sensing platform.

phys.org

https://phys.org/news/2024-05-temperature-pulse-irradiation-technique-enables.html
https://phys.org/news/2024-05-thousand-smaller-grain-sand-glass.html

For sound?

Metalens expands its reach from light to sound

Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) have achieved a breakthrough in surpassing the limitations of traditional acoustic metalenses. They have successfully developed the first wide field-of-hearing metalens. Their research has been published in Nature Communications.

phys.org

 

[raptor82]

Oops…

Another Dead End for Airborne Lasers: Air Force Scraps Effort to Mount Directed-Energy Weapon on Fighter Jet

The Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator, or SHiELD, was envisioned as a laser weapon mounted on fighter jets such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II that would neutralize incoming missiles.

www.military.com

 

[Cordy]

Oops…

Another Dead End for Airborne Lasers: Air Force Scraps Effort to Mount Directed-Energy Weapon on Fighter Jet

The Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator, or SHiELD, was envisioned as a laser weapon mounted on fighter jets such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II that would neutralize incoming missiles.

www.military.com

It would appear the Air Force/Lockheed with SHiELD was unable to solve both the well known fundamental technical problems that make using lasers on aircraft impracticable, vibration and wind turbulence, besides providing the required electrical power

The then-Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin stated in 2020 that the program’s goal shooting down missiles midair with an airborne laser was unlikely to work and has now been proven to be right.
“I’m extremely skeptical that we can put a large laser on an aircraft and use it to shoot down an adversary missile, even from fairly close,” said Griffin. “It has been done as an experiment, but as a weapon system to equip an airplane with the kinds of lasers we think necessary, in terms of their power level, and all their support requirements, and get the airplane to altitudes where atmospheric turbulence can be mitigated appropriately, that combination of things doesn’t go on one platform.”

GAO stated
"For example, flight at high speeds generates vibrations that requires DE weapon designs to be ruggedized to a flight environment. In addition, the typical turbulence caused by airflow moving around the aircraft or a DE weapons system at high speeds—including supersonic speeds—would make it difficult to use HEL weapons, because the beam could get distorted or disrupted by this turbulence. The Air Force invested in developing technology to reduce turbulence affecting these DE systems "

 

[X-39]

No laser NGAD then?

 

[TomcatViP]

Perhaps a better integration, or some better electronics? It seems counter-intuitive to have that failed. The pulsed negative narrative surging in the press all together is of no help to be empathetically credulous.,,

 

[bcredman]

Oops…

Another Dead End for Airborne Lasers: Air Force Scraps Effort to Mount Directed-Energy Weapon on Fighter Jet

The Self-Protect High-Energy Laser Demonstrator, or SHiELD, was envisioned as a laser weapon mounted on fighter jets such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II that would neutralize incoming missiles.

www.military.com

There are a few negative over reactions to this article in the comments on it. Those comments ignored the following statements in the article:

"Air Force officials remain bullish on the potential for airborne laser weapons to reshape the battlefield.

"Through SHiELD and related efforts, [the Air Force Research Laboratory] has made significant advances in the readiness of airborne [high-energy laser] technology, and we continue to mature airborne HEL weapons technology for the operational needs of today and tomorrow," Ortiz said...

the Army recently deployed a pair of ground-based laser weapons overseas to help counter incoming drones and is investing heavily in the development of more powerful systems designed to counter even fast-moving cruise missiles. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is spending around $1 billion per year on at least 31 directed-energy programs, according to C4ISRNet...

But developing effective and reliable airborne laser weapons has proven challenging compared to their ground vehicle- and warship-based counterparts, as former Pentagon research and engineering chief Mike Griffin detailed in 2020, according to Breaking Defense...

With the SHiELD program concluded and the AHEL defunct, the Defense Department's dream of airborne laser weapons seems as distant as ever. But as the Pentagon continues to invest in directed-energy programs to deal with the rising tide of adversary drone and missile attacks, chances are high that the Air Force's efforts in that arena are far from finished.

"After many years of development, HEL weapons are now a battlefield reality," Ortiz said. "The game-changing features of HEL weapons -- deep magazine, scalable effects, and speed-of-light engagement -- combined with the potential logistics benefits of a weapon that effectively uses jet fuel for ammunition, make air platform integration a natural next step.""

 

[Cordy]

"After many years of development, HEL weapons are now a battlefield reality," Ortiz said. "The game-changing features of HEL weapons -- deep magazine, scalable effects, and speed-of-light engagement -- combined with the potential logistics benefits of a weapon that effectively uses jet fuel for ammunition, make air platform integration a natural next step.""

The sentiments expressed by the Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz that HEL is now a battlefield reality, would then question why did the Air Force cancel both SHiELD and AHEL, and also seem contridictory to the recent comments by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Doug Bush on the 50 kW DE M-SHORAD.
“That [50-kilowatt] power level is proving challenging to incorporate into a vehicle that has to move around constantly — the heat dissipation, the amount of electronics, kind of the wear and tear of a vehicle in a tactical environment versus a fixed site.”


https://breakingdefense.com/2024/05...ith-50-kilowatt-lasers-service-official-says/

 

[bcredman]

The sentiments expressed by the Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz that HEL is now a battlefield reality, would then question why did the Air Force cancel both SHiELD and AHEL, and also seem contridictory to the recent comments by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology Doug Bush on the 50 kW DE M-SHORAD.
“That [50-kilowatt] power level is proving challenging to incorporate into a vehicle that has to move around constantly — the heat dissipation, the amount of electronics, kind of the wear and tear of a vehicle in a tactical environment versus a fixed site.”


https://breakingdefense.com/2024/05...ith-50-kilowatt-lasers-service-official-says/

The reasons the Air Force cancelled SHIELD and AHEL are stated in the article: "But developing effective and reliable airborne laser weapons has proven challenging compared to their ground vehicle- and warship-based counterparts, as former Pentagon research and engineering chief Mike Griffin detailed in 2020, according to Breaking Defense."

Different platforms, operating environments, and targets present different challenges for all military systems, not just HELs, and some environments are more challenging than others. Just because HELs may not be suitable for some platforms, operating environments, and/or targets, does not mean they are not suitable for other platforms, operating environments, and/or targets.

Also, all new military systems have issues during the transition from R&D to fielding. Usually these issues are identified and resolved during operational testing and initial deployment during the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phases. Usually these issues get blown out of proportion by opponents of the new systems and the press during this phase. This is what is happening with the 50 kW DE M-SHORAD system. Whether or not the challenges faced by the 50 kW DE M-SHORAD listed by Doug Bush will be overcome remains to be seen, but these kinds of challenges are usually faced by new military systems.

For example, the power packs of the M1 tank prototypes delivered for testing in 1976 had issues. After redesigns, 11 XM1 pre-production models were manufactured between February and July 1978, but quality problems with the engine quickly became apparent in testing. Critics of the M1 program emerged in the early 1980s, particularly the newly formed Project on Military Procurement (PMP) (later renamed the Project on Government Oversight). American tank historian Steven J. Zaloga characterized American press criticism of the M1 during this time as "ill-founded". Zaloga wrote the issues uncovered by the tank trials were "not particularly serious". PMP's criticism failed to generate any serious opposition to the program, which maintained strong support from Congress and the Pentagon. Responding to some of the alleged issues with the tank in King of the Killing Zone (1989), journalist Orr Kelly wrote that "The truth is close to the opposite." Kelly said the program "ranks as one of the Army's best managed", producing a tank in "a remarkably short time" while avoiding "gold-plating" and utilizing effective competition.

 

[Cordy]

Also, all new military systems have issues during the transition from R&D to fielding. Usually these issues are identified and resolved during operational testing and initial deployment during the Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phases. Usually these issues get blown out of proportion by opponents of the new systems and the press during this phase. This is what is happening with the 50 kW DE M-SHORAD system. Whether or not the challenges faced by the 50 kW DE M-SHORAD listed by Doug Bush will be overcome remains to be seen, but these kinds of challenges are usually faced by new military systems.

The GAO report on DEW said DOD has long noted a gap, sometimes called “the valley of death” between its development and its acquisition communities that impede technology transition. For example, the acquisition community may require a higher level of technology maturity than the development community is able to produce e.g. maintainability, the delicate components/internal mechanisms for lasers weapons are sensitive and typically require a specialized clean room for repairs and think it would be impracticable for the Army to establish clean rooms near the battlefield.

 

[bcredman]

The GAO report on DEW said DOD has long noted a gap, sometimes called “the valley of death” between its development and its acquisition communities that impede technology transition. For example, the acquisition community may require a higher level of technology maturity than the development community is able to produce e.g. maintainability, the delicate components/internal mechanisms for lasers weapons are sensitive and typically require a specialized clean room for repairs and think it would be impracticable for the Army to establish clean rooms near the battlefield.

I am very familiar with the technology transition "valley of death" having worked in R&D on lasers and electro-optic systems for aerospace and defense applications for 40 years before I retired. The technology transition "valley of death" and logistics issues are real concerns for the successful deployment of laser weapons, but not necessarily insurmountable.

The military forces of not only the U.S., but also of most Western nations, Russia, China, and India have fielded laser rangefinders, laser designators, and laser guided munitions which also require specialized clean rooms for repairs. The US developed and deployed laser designators and laser guided bombs during the Vietnam War. Laser-guided weapons were first developed in the United States in the early 1960s. The United States Air Force issued the first development contracts in 1964, leading to the development of the Paveway series, which was used operationally in the Vietnam War starting in 1968. Today, laser-guided bombs are one of the most common and widespread guided bombs, used by many of the world's air forces.

One of the techniques to avoid the need for onsite clean rooms to repair delicate military electro-optical systems, including such laser systems, is to employ modular designs such that the delicate optical components are encapsulated in sealed modules so that the modules can be replaced in the field and the damaged modules sent back to a repair facility with the required clean rooms and optical components to repair and align the internal optical components of the modules.

According to the May 13, 2024 Wired article https://www.wired.com/story/laser-wars-us-military-laser-weapons/ "The United States Army has officially sent a pair of high-energy laser weapons overseas to defend American troops and US allies against enemy drones, the service recently revealed, marking the first publicly known deployment of a directed-energy system for air defense in military history. And, according to a top official, those weapons are actively blasting threats out of the sky.

The weapon, known as the Palletized High Energy Laser (P-HEL) and developed by the American defense contractor BlueHalo based on the company’s 20-kilowatt Locust Laser Weapon System, first arrived in an unspecified location overseas and “commenced operational employment” in November 2022, according to an April press release from the company. A second system arrived overseas “earlier this year.”

While the Army initially declined to indicate where the P-HEL systems were sent and whether they had achieved a “kill” against an adversary drone, citing operational security concerns, the service’s top acquisition official recently confirmed that the new laser weapons had in fact succeeded in neutralizing incoming threats in the Middle East...

...the arrival of the P-HEL in the Middle East for operational use is a technological victory for the US military, which has actively pursued research related to directed-energy weapons since the 1970s. Even more significantly, it may also represent a tipping point for the development and use of laser weapons more broadly by militaries around the world."

This article also describes the technology transition "valley of death" and logistics issues for laser weapons, but it is too early to tell whether or not laser weapon systems development will be able to overcome these challenges.

 

[publiusr]

B-1R missile truck would be perfect for it.

 

[Cordy]

U.S. Military Laser Weapon Programs Are Facing A Reality Check

The quiet end of a laser for fighter jets speaks to continued challenges in fielding operationally-relevant battlefield laser weapons.

www.twz.com

 

[bcredman]

U.S. Military Laser Weapon Programs Are Facing A Reality Check

The quiet end of a laser for fighter jets speaks to continued challenges in fielding operationally-relevant battlefield laser weapons.

www.twz.com

Thanks for posting the link to this article.

I think that article gives a fairly balanced description of the technical and logistic challenges for fielding laser weapons, and the continued interest in fielding laser weapons due their "promise of largely unconstrained magazine depth – as long as there is sufficient power and cooling – and fast-as-light precision engagements against various tiers of threats" and their relatively low cost per shot.

One thing not mentioned in the article, but which I have observed over the years, is that lasers and electro-optics technology transition plans typically tend to drastically underestimate the budget and schedule required to successfully cross the transition "valley of death."

Back in the 1980s when I was involved in assessing the directed energy weapons technology research and development plans for the HQ Air Force Directorate of Strategic Defense and Space and for the Strategic Defense Initiative Office (SDIO), my department head told me that for R&D transition to fielding, his rule of thumb was to multiply the best budget and schedule estimates submitted by the technical managers by a factor of about pi in order to get a realistic estimate for planning. (He said a factor of pi instead of 3 as a joke.)

From what I have observed over the years since then, that factor of pi seems about right on average, but typically the plans submitted for technology transition from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 (System/subsystem model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment) to TRL 9 (Actual system proven through successful mission operations) for lasers and electro-optical systems carry only 20% to 40% margins, i.e., factors of 1.2 to 1.4, on budgets and schedules.

Thus, I am not surprised when laser and electro-optical systems technology transition programs take twice or more as long or cost twice or more as much than originally planned, or get cut prematurely due to these overruns. In the latter case, if there are real mission needs which the systems can actually ultimately meet, then the development and transition programs start up again after a few years under new names. This leads to the two steps forward and one step backward progress typical of military laser and electro-optical systems development and transition during peacetime. During wartime, however, technologies that can meet urgent critical mission needs will get sufficient funding and have expedited procedures to accelerate the transition schedule and push them over the transition "valley of death" into the field.

 

[publiusr]

Quite the beam

Researchers create the world's strongest ionizing terahertz radiation

Terahertz waves, known as non-ionizing radiation, can turn into ionization radiation when sufficiently many terahertz photons are focused in space and time. A team led by scientists in Korea and the U.S. has created the world's most intense terahertz pulses that can instantaneously ionize atoms...

phys.org

Ionizing terahertz waves with 260 MV/cm from scalable optical rectification - Light: Science & Applications

Intense terahertz pulses, produced from a large-area lithium niobate wafer via phase-matched optical rectification of 150-terawatt laser pulses, ionize atoms and molecules and turn them into plasma.

www.nature.com

 

[Forest Green]

Quite the beam

Researchers create the world's strongest ionizing terahertz radiation

Terahertz waves, known as non-ionizing radiation, can turn into ionization radiation when sufficiently many terahertz photons are focused in space and time. A team led by scientists in Korea and the U.S. has created the world's most intense terahertz pulses that can instantaneously ionize atoms...

phys.org

Ionizing terahertz waves with 260 MV/cm from scalable optical rectification - Light: Science & Applications

Intense terahertz pulses, produced from a large-area lithium niobate wafer via phase-matched optical rectification of 150-terawatt laser pulses, ionize atoms and molecules and turn them into plasma.

www.nature.com

THz radar can also be used to estimate the RCS of full-size aircraft using scale models.

https://backend.orbit.dtu.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/53437283/oe_18_25_26399.pdf

 

[indicisivedivide]

Quite the beam

Researchers create the world's strongest ionizing terahertz radiation

Terahertz waves, known as non-ionizing radiation, can turn into ionization radiation when sufficiently many terahertz photons are focused in space and time. A team led by scientists in Korea and the U.S. has created the world's most intense terahertz pulses that can instantaneously ionize atoms...

phys.org

Ionizing terahertz waves with 260 MV/cm from scalable optical rectification - Light: Science & Applications

Intense terahertz pulses, produced from a large-area lithium niobate wafer via phase-matched optical rectification of 150-terawatt laser pulses, ionize atoms and molecules and turn them into plasma.

www.nature.com

Not related to laser weapons but related to Wakefield Acceleration.

 

[Forest Green]

Not related to laser weapons but related to Wakefield Acceleration.

They used a laser to produce the THz radiation according to the article.

To produce high-energy terahertz pulses, the scientists used a 150-terawatt-class Ti:sapphire laser to convert optical energy into terahertz radiation (so-called optical rectification) in lithium niobate (LiNbO₃), a crystal that exhibits strong nonlinearities and high damage thresholds. In particular, they used a large-diameter (75 mm) lithium niobate wafer, also doped with 5% magnesium oxide (MgO), to produce energy-up-scalable terahertz radiation.

For efficient conversion from optical to terahertz radiation, another important factor must be considered: phase (or velocity) matching. The scientists explained, "If the optical laser pulse that generates terahertz radiation propagates at the same velocity with the generated terahertz waves in lithium niobate, then the output terahertz energy can continuously grow with the propagation distance.