EP4172649A1 - Dispositif à faisceau laser avec couplage d'un faisceau laser d'éclairage en un faisceau laser effectif - Google Patents

Dispositif à faisceau laser avec couplage d'un faisceau laser d'éclairage en un faisceau laser effectif

Info

Publication number
EP4172649A1
EP4172649A1 EP21737392.7A EP21737392A EP4172649A1 EP 4172649 A1 EP4172649 A1 EP 4172649A1 EP 21737392 A EP21737392 A EP 21737392A EP 4172649 A1 EP4172649 A1 EP 4172649A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
laser beam
illuminating
area
sub
effective
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21737392.7A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Markus Jung
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
Original Assignee
Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH filed Critical Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
Publication of EP4172649A1 publication Critical patent/EP4172649A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/23—Arrangements of two or more lasers not provided for in groups H01S3/02 - H01S3/22, e.g. tandem arrangements of separate active media
    • H01S3/2383—Parallel arrangements
    • H01S3/2391—Parallel arrangements emitting at different wavelengths
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
    • F41H13/00—Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for
    • F41H13/0043—Directed energy weapons, i.e. devices that direct a beam of high energy content toward a target for incapacitating or destroying the target
    • F41H13/005—Directed energy weapons, i.e. devices that direct a beam of high energy content toward a target for incapacitating or destroying the target the high-energy beam being a laser beam
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S17/00—Systems using the reflection or reradiation of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. lidar systems
    • G01S17/66—Tracking systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01S—RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
    • G01S7/00—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
    • G01S7/48—Details of systems according to groups G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00 of systems according to group G01S17/00
    • G01S7/481—Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements
    • G01S7/4814—Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements of transmitters alone
    • G01S7/4815—Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements of transmitters alone using multiple transmitters
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/09—Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, not otherwise provided for
    • G02B27/0905—Dividing and/or superposing multiple light beams
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/10—Beam splitting or combining systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/005—Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/005—Optical devices external to the laser cavity, specially adapted for lasers, e.g. for homogenisation of the beam or for manipulating laser pulses, e.g. pulse shaping
    • H01S3/0071—Beam steering, e.g. whereby a mirror outside the cavity is present to change the beam direction
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/09—Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, not otherwise provided for
    • G02B27/0938—Using specific optical elements
    • G02B27/0988—Diaphragms, spatial filters, masks for removing or filtering a part of the beam
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/005—Diaphragms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B7/00—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
    • G02B7/20—Light-tight connections for movable optical elements
    • G02B7/24—Pivoted connections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/0014—Monitoring arrangements not otherwise provided for
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01S—DEVICES USING THE PROCESS OF LIGHT AMPLIFICATION BY STIMULATED EMISSION OF RADIATION [LASER] TO AMPLIFY OR GENERATE LIGHT; DEVICES USING STIMULATED EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION IN WAVE RANGES OTHER THAN OPTICAL
    • H01S3/00—Lasers, i.e. devices using stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared, visible or ultraviolet wave range
    • H01S3/23—Arrangements of two or more lasers not provided for in groups H01S3/02 - H01S3/22, e.g. tandem arrangements of separate active media
    • H01S3/2383—Parallel arrangements

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a
  • Laser beam device according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such a laser beam device is assumed to be known per se and has means for generating an effective laser beam emanating from the laser beam device, means for generating an illuminating laser beam and a coupling element for coupling the illuminating laser beam into a beam path of the effective laser beam to be emitted by the laser beam device on.
  • the effective laser beam is used to combat targets through thermal or non-thermal interference (blinds), damage or destruction. Examples of such targets are static targets such as mines and dynamic targets such as missiles or artillery projectiles (UAVs, etc.).
  • Alignment of the laser beam device usually takes place in two stages.
  • the target is detected, for example, by an electro-optical system, e.g. a radar system, and the laser beam device is mechanically relatively roughly aligned with the target (rough tracking).
  • the alignment takes place, for example, by rotating a platform (tower) carrying the laser beam device in azimuth and pivoting the laser beam device in FIG
  • the target is illuminated with an illuminating laser beam (fine tracking).
  • Illumination radiation reflected from the illuminated target is detected by a sensor that is sensitive to the illumination radiation, evaluated and used for fine alignment of the effective laser beam by adjusting a mirror that influences the direction of the effective laser beam.
  • the means for generating the illuminating laser beam can in principle be implemented in three different arrangements, each of which has different problems.
  • a first arrangement referred to as a remote illumination laser
  • a second rotatable platform is required which, with high mechanical accuracy, connects to the platform of the means for generating the
  • Effective laser beam must be electrically coupled and which carries the means for generating the illuminating laser beam.
  • Another disadvantage is the existence of coverage areas in which the target is covered by the means for generating the effective laser beam or, conversely, the target for the effective laser beam is covered by the means for generating the illuminating laser beam.
  • the illumination laser which has a telescope, is mechanically coupled with parts of its telescope parallel to the beam path of the effective laser beam with the means for generating the effective laser beam.
  • This lateral offset can be compensated for by a larger opening angle of the illuminating laser beam, but this requires a disadvantageously greater transmission power of the illuminating laser beam and / or small center distances.
  • the illuminating laser beam is coupled into the beam path of the effective laser beam.
  • a coupling element is used that firstly has a high transmission for the wavelength of the effective laser beam, secondly a sufficiently high temperature resistance for the high power of the effective laser beam, thirdly a high reflection for the illuminating laser beam in the direction of transmission (towards the target) and fourthly, a high transmission for the illuminating laser beam in the direction of reflection (from the target to a sensor sensitive to the illumination radiation).
  • the fourth requirement can be met by using an optical element with polarization-dependent reflection for the wavelength of the illuminating laser beam and using polarized illuminating laser radiation.
  • the transmission direction the reflection in the polarization direction of the illuminating laser radiation is maximized.
  • the direction of reflection from the target to the sensor
  • the fourth requirement can be met by using a coupling element with 50% reflection and 50% transmission for the wavelength of the illuminating laser beam. This means that only about 50% of the power of the illuminating laser beam arrives at the target. In the direction of reflection, only 50% of the coupling element become the sensor transmitted. The sensor thus receives compared to the remote or compared to the laterally offset means for generating the
  • Illuminating laser beam less than 25% of the power. This can disadvantageously only be compensated by a higher power of the illuminating laser beam.
  • the present invention is based on the third arrangement and is characterized in that the coupling element has a first sub-area and a second sub-area which is different from the first sub-area, and that the means for generating the effective laser beam, the means for generating the illuminating laser beam and the coupling element are arranged relative to one another in a certain way. According to this particular way, the effective laser beam is directed onto the first sub-area and the illuminating laser beam is directed onto the second sub-area.
  • the first sub-area is transparent to the effective laser beam, and the second sub-area is set up to reflect the illuminating laser beam parallel to the effective laser beam.
  • Another advantage is that the above-mentioned power losses do not occur in the present invention, or at most to a significantly smaller extent. It is also advantageous that this does not involve any reduction in the aperture diameter of the effective laser beam in relation to the aperture diameter of the straightening system.
  • the invention also allows the use of more than one illuminating laser beam, wherein illuminating laser beams differing from one another can have mutually different wavelengths and beam diameters in the target plane.
  • a preferred embodiment is characterized in that the wavelength of the effective laser beam differs from the wavelength of the illuminating laser beam.
  • the sub-area that is to be reflective for the illuminating laser beam can be made transparent for the effective laser beam (e.g. by means of appropriate reflective layers AR / AR for the effective laser as a whole, AR / R only for the area of the transmission branch of the illuminating laser AR / AR illuminating laser for the receiving area , where R stands for reflective and AR stands for anti-reflective).
  • R stands for reflective and AR stands for anti-reflective
  • the first sub-area is a central sub-area in relation to the beam cross-section of the effective laser beam.
  • the first sub-area therefore coincides with the central area of the beam cross-section in which the highest power density of the effective laser beam prevails. This ensures that the largest possible Part of the generated effective laser radiation can also be emitted.
  • the second sub-area is a peripheral sub-area located outside of the central sub-area with respect to the beam cross-section of the effective laser beam.
  • this sub-area with a laser beam with a Gaussian intensity profile, for example, the power density is very low and thus the influence on the field distribution of the illuminating laser beam is very small.
  • the coupling element is a plane-parallel plate.
  • a plane-parallel plate allows the illumination laser beam, which preferably falls at right angles to the beam path of the effective laser beam, to be deflected into the beam path of the effective laser beam with only minimal influence on the effective laser beam, which experiences only a small lateral offset when passing through the plane-parallel plate.
  • the second partial area of the coupling element is provided with a reflective layer for the illuminating laser beam.
  • the reflective layer matched to the wavelength of the reflective laser beam allows the illuminating laser beam to be deflected as desired by reflection. It is further preferred that the reflective layer is transparent to the effective laser beam. This ensures that the areas of low power density of the effective laser beam also contribute to the irradiation of the target, and at the same time it is prevented that effective laser radiation is reflected there and can then wander undesirably in the laser beam device.
  • Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that at least the first partial area is provided with an anti-reflection layer for the effective laser beam. This configuration also contributes to the advantages mentioned in the preceding paragraph.
  • the means for generating the illuminating laser beam can have an axicon lens which is set up and arranged to form a coherent illuminating laser beam which has a circular beam cross section
  • the illuminating laser beam is generated as a first alternative as the sum of coherently coupled illuminating laser partial beams which are distributed around the beam direction of the effective laser beam via the coupling element and are aligned parallel to the effective laser beam.
  • a second alternative embodiment is characterized in that the illuminating laser beam is generated as the sum of non-coherently coupled illuminating laser partial beams.
  • the reflective layers are preferably limited to the area of the illuminating rays.
  • the ring-shaped second partial area can also be replaced by individual small reflectors. In the extreme case, you could also work with just one illuminating laser beam.
  • the illuminating laser partial beams are arranged so as to be distributed concentrically and symmetrically around the effective laser beam.
  • the means for generating the illuminating laser beam are set up for the purpose of that emitted by the laser beam device in the far field Illuminating laser radiation to generate an intensity distribution with a maximum on an optical axis of the laser beam device.
  • the target reflects part of the illuminating laser radiation back on the optical axis, so that the reflected illuminating laser radiation is transmitted by the coupling element along the optical axis of the coupling element.
  • the transmission losses occurring at the edge of the coupling element are low, since most of the reflected illuminating laser radiation is concentrated in the vicinity of the optical axis.
  • Another preferred embodiment is characterized in that the means for generating the illuminating laser beam are set up to generate the illuminating laser beam as a continuous wave laser beam.
  • the means for generating the illuminating laser beam are set up to generate the illuminating laser beam as a pulsed laser beam.
  • the average power in the individual illumination lasers can be reduced.
  • NOHD nominal ocular hazard distance
  • the NOHD nominal ocular hazard distance
  • FIG. 1 shows a laser beam device together with a mechanical straightening device
  • FIG. 2 shows a coupling element from FIG. 1 together with outgoing and reflected illuminating laser radiation in a side view
  • FIG. 3 shows the coupling element from FIGS. 1 and 2 in a front view
  • Figure 4 is a side cross section of the
  • FIG. 5 shows a front view of an arrangement of four partial illumination laser beams together with the two partial areas of the coupling element
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of an intensity distribution
  • FIG. 7 shows an overlap of a first partial illuminating laser beam and a second partial illuminating laser beam
  • FIG. 8 shows an alignment of a first partial illuminating laser beam and a second partial illuminating laser beam
  • FIG. 9 shows a possible arrangement for generating an illuminating laser beam from an illuminating laser beam source and a telescope
  • FIG. 10 shows a possible arrangement for generating two illuminating laser beams from one
  • FIG. 11 beam paths of a laser beam device 10 with such an arrangement
  • FIG. 12 shows, in the form of a block diagram, a rough structure of a high-level laser or a laser weapon
  • FIG. 13 shows an illustration of the straightening unit from FIG. 12.
  • FIG. 14 shows a partial representation of the laser weapon with a straightening unit.
  • FIG. 1 shows a laser beam device 10 together with a mechanical straightening device 12.
  • the laser beam device 10 is arranged in the interior of a housing 14.
  • the housing has an aperture 16 through which an illuminating laser beam and an effective laser beam 20 can emerge from the housing 14.
  • the mechanical straightening device 12 has a rotary platform 22 and a pivot axis 24, which is rigidly connected to the housing 14 and is pivotably mounted in the rotary platform 22.
  • the rotary platform 22 can be rotated about an axis of rotation 26.
  • the rough alignment is controlled, for example, by a radar system.
  • the coupling can be between the Elements 34 and 16 lie and particularly preferably lie between elements 38 and 16.
  • the laser beam device 10 has means for generating a real laser beam 20 emanating from the laser beam device 10, means for generating an illuminating laser beam 18 and a coupling element 30 for coupling the illuminating laser beam 18 into a beam path of the real laser beam 20 to be emitted by the laser beam device 10.
  • the means for generating the effective laser beam 20 include a high-energy laser 32, a deflecting mirror 34 which is reflective for the wavelength of the effective laser beam 20 and permeable for the wavelength of the illuminating laser beam 18, a tip-tilt mirror 36 which can be controlled with regard to its orientation, a real laser telescope 38 and the coupling element 30th
  • the means for generating an illuminating laser beam 18 include an illuminating laser 40 and the coupling element 30.
  • the illuminating laser beam 18 is coupled into the beam path of the effective laser beam 20 by the coupling element 30.
  • Illumination laser radiation preferably has a different wavelength than the real laser radiation.
  • the means for generating the illuminating laser beam 18 are set up in one embodiment to generate the illuminating laser beam 18 as a continuous wave laser beam.
  • the means to Generation of the illuminating laser beam 18 set up to generate the illuminating laser beam 18 as a pulsed laser beam (repetitive).
  • the means for generating the illuminating laser beam 18 have, for example, an axicon lens which is set up and arranged for this purpose
  • Illumination laser beam which has a circular beam cross-section, to one
  • a coherent ring-shaped power distribution in the illuminating laser beam 18 can also be generated with an unstable resonator arrangement.
  • the reflected illumination laser radiation 42 passes through the deflecting mirror 34 and is detected by the optical sensor 46.
  • the resulting signal of the optical Sensor 46 is evaluated by evaluation software 48 of a control device 50, and the result of the evaluation is used by a control unit 52 of control device 50 to control tip / tilt mirror 36.
  • the activation takes place in such a way that the tip tilt mirror 36 aligns a possibly triggered effective laser beam 20 onto the target 28. This alignment represents fine tracking.
  • FIG. 2 shows the coupling element 30 from FIG. 1 together with outgoing 18 and reflected illuminating laser radiation 42 in a side view.
  • FIG. 3 shows the coupling element 30 from FIGS. 1 and 2 in a front view, i.e. as it could be visible to a viewer located on the optical axis 44 on the target side.
  • the coupling element is preferably circular and appears in FIG. 3 as an elliptical shape due to an orientation inclined to the optical axis 44.
  • the coupling element 30 is in each case a circular plane-parallel plate. In the case of installation at 45 °, the plate is preferably so elliptical that its projection in the direction of incidence and direction of emergence is circular.
  • the coupling element 30 has a first sub-area 54 and a second sub-area 56, which is different from the first sub-area 54.
  • the means for generating the effective laser beam 20, the means for generating the illuminating laser beam 18 and the coupling element 30 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that that the effective laser beam 20 is directed onto the first sub-area 54 and the illuminating laser beam 18 is directed onto the second sub-area 56.
  • the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 corresponds to this requirement.
  • Figure 4 shows a side cross section of the
  • Coupling element 30 together with intensity profiles of an effective laser beam and an illuminating laser beam.
  • the optical axis of the coupling element lies within the plane of the drawing.
  • the first sub-area 54 is a central sub-area 54 with respect to the beam cross-section of the effective laser beam 20.
  • the first sub-area 54 is transparent for the effective laser beam 20 and the illuminating laser beam 42, and the second sub-area 56 is set up to direct the illuminating laser beam 18 parallel to the effective laser beam 20 reflect.
  • At least the first sub-area 54 is provided with an anti-reflection layer 58 for the effective laser beam 20.
  • the antireflection layer 58 can be arranged on the front side and / or on the rear side of the coupling element 30.
  • the first partial area 54 is preferably also coated with the antireflection layer 58.
  • the sub-area 54 has an AR layer for the illuminating laser beam on both sides.
  • the second sub-area 56 is a peripheral, Sub-area located outside the central (first) sub-area 54.
  • the second sub-area 56 of the coupling element 30 is provided with a reflective layer 60 for the illuminating laser beam 18.
  • the reflective layer 60 is preferably transparent to the effective laser beam 20.
  • Curve 62 indicates schematically, by way of example, the Gaussian curve-shaped intensity profile of the effective laser beam 20 after the coupling element 30, which is maximum in the central sub-area 54 and is not yet zero in the peripheral sub-areas 56 either.
  • the curves 64 represent intensity profiles of the illumination laser beam 18 reflected in the peripheral region 56.
  • FIG. 5 shows a front view of an arrangement of four partial illumination laser beams together with the two partial areas of the coupling element.
  • the partial illumination laser beams are distributed concentrically and symmetrically around the effective laser beam (which is switched off here).
  • the sum of these illuminating laser partial beams 66 then generates, if the illuminating laser partial beams 66 are coherently coupled to one another, an intensity distribution in the far field with an intensity maximum lying on the optical axis of the laser beam device 10.
  • the optical axis of the laser beam device 10 generally coincides with the optical axis of the coupling module 30 at least outside the laser beam device 10.
  • FIG. 6 shows an example of such an intensity distribution.
  • the coupling element having circular or circular ring-shaped partial areas can also be replaced by individual, smaller coupling elements in the form of reflectors.
  • the non-coherently coupled partial illumination laser beams can be aligned in such a way that they overlap in the target area in order to increase the illumination intensity in the target area.
  • FIG. 7 shows such an overlap of a first partial illumination laser beam 68 or partial illumination laser beam and a second partial illumination laser beam 70 or partial illumination laser beam.
  • the non-coherently coupled illumination laser partial beams can be aligned in such a way that they illuminate adjacent areas touching one another in the target area and thus illuminate a larger area overall.
  • FIG. 8 shows such an alignment of a first illuminating laser partial beam 68 or illuminating laser partial beam and a second Illumination laser partial beam 70 or illumination laser partial beam.
  • the transmission power otherwise required when using a single illuminating laser beam 18 is almost halved.
  • the requirements for the means for generating the illuminating laser beam with regard to power and beam quality are reduced for a given aperture diameter.
  • the reduction in the power and the enlargement of the opening angle reduce the NOHD for the individual partial illumination laser beam when using several partial illumination laser beams. If the area of the overlap is above the NOHD for the individual partial illumination laser beam, then the NOHD for the entire laser beam device is also reduced.
  • means can also be used that generate a pulsed illuminating laser beam.
  • a pulsed illuminating laser beam As a result of the alternating or pulsed operation, with the same average power / same average intensity and the same peak intensity in the target plane, the average power in the individual partial illumination laser beams can be reduced. In this way, the NOHD can be reduced, as is also the case with the use of several non-coherent means for generating illuminating laser radiation.
  • FIG. 9 shows a possible arrangement for generating an illuminating laser beam 18 from an illuminating laser 40 and an illuminating laser telescope 72.
  • the opening angle of the illuminating laser beam 18 is relatively small and the NOHD is correspondingly relatively large.
  • the NOHD is relatively small in the peak performance and relatively large on average.
  • FIG. 10 shows a possible arrangement for generating two illuminating laser beams 18 from an illuminating laser 40, a beam switch 74 and two illuminating laser telescopes 72.
  • One advantage of this arrangement is that only one laser is required, which reduces costs, mass and space required .
  • the arrangement of the effective laser beam and the illuminating laser beam can also be completely reversed. In this case, the effective laser beam is reflected and the illuminating laser beam is transmitted. This configuration can have advantages in terms of losses.
  • FIG. 11 shows beam paths of a laser beam device 10 with such an arrangement.
  • a laser beam device 10 has means for generating an effective laser beam 20 emanating from the laser beam device 10, means for generating a Illumination laser beam 18, and a coupling element 30 for coupling the illumination laser beam 18 into a beam path of the effective laser beam 20 to be emitted by the laser beam device 10.
  • This laser beam device is characterized in that the coupling element has a first partial area and a second partial area 56, which is different from the first partial area 54, and that the means for generating the effective laser beam 20, the means for generating the illuminating laser beam 18 and the coupling element 30 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the effective laser beam 20 is directed onto the first sub-area 54 and the illuminating laser beam 18 is directed onto the second sub-area 56, the second sub-area 56 being transparent for the illuminating laser beam 18 and the first sub-area 54 being set up to reflect the effective laser beam 20 parallel to the illuminating laser beam 18.
  • FIG. 12 shows in a sketchy block diagram at least one active laser source labeled 100 as well as at least one beam guidance module 102 and at least one controller 104. These assemblies are part of, for example, a high-power laser, here a laser weapon (or a laser weapon system).
  • a high-power laser here a laser weapon (or a laser weapon system).
  • the effective laser source 100, the beam guidance module 102 and the controller 104 can be accommodated together in a stationary or partially movable part 106 of the high-power laser.
  • the stationary / partially movable portion 106 can be formed by a space, for example through a container etc.
  • a straightening unit 108 (here a beam deflection system), a so-called scanner, is arranged outside the container.
  • an illumination laser source labeled 110 is also accommodated in this container. This has the charm that a laser beam 112 from the illuminating laser source 110 can be coupled into the beam guidance module 102, so that the illuminating laser targets such a
  • Beam guidance module can do without.
  • the coupling can be implemented, for example, via a dichroic mirror (not shown in more detail).
  • the illumination laser can also use a telescope of the beam guidance module 102.
  • the illumination laser 110 can also be mounted on the straightening unit 108.
  • the illuminating laser beam 112 can be aligned in the direction of the laser beam 114 of the effective laser source, i.e. point in this direction.
  • the at least one active laser source and the at least one illumination laser source 110 are functionally connected to the at least one beam guidance module 102, for example via at least one optical fiber 116 (transport fiber) and / or at least one free beam 118.
  • the electrical control 104 can act at least on the beam guidance module 102 and the straightening unit 108 (not explained further).
  • the straightening unit 108 is shown in a slightly enlarged view.
  • the straightening unit 108 comprises two deflecting mirrors 120, 122 on axes of rotation (azimuth, elevation).
  • the two axes of rotation are set up in such a way that the full deflection angle range (0 -360 °) can be set in azimuth with any number of rotations.
  • a small electric motor (not shown in detail), by means of which the deflecting mirrors 120, 122 can be rotated, is connected to each of the axes of rotation.
  • the rotation takes place in such a way that the deflection mirror 122 is rotated with the deflection mirror 120, so that a laser beam 124 remains centered (in the middle) on the deflection mirror 122.
  • a housing of the straightening unit 108 is identified by 126.
  • the straightening unit 108 has a signal output 128 and a signal input 130.
  • the signal output 128 is realized by a closing window.
  • the signal input 130 can also be implemented by a closure window.
  • the signal output 128 of the straightening unit 108 points in the direction of a target 132 (FIG. 3), while the signal input 130 points in the direction of the effective laser source or the beam guidance module 102.
  • the deflection mirrors 14, 15 are preferably so in the Built-in straightening unit 5 so that no deformation of the mirrors 14, 15 occurs under the weight load or movement (proper movement). This can be achieved, for example, by an isostatic mirror mounting (bipods).
  • the deflecting mirrors 120, 122 should be highly reflective for the wavelength of the laser beam 124 of the active laser source and the wavelength of the laser beam
  • Illumination laser source and the observation wavelengths can be achieved through optical polishing or a mirror coating.
  • the deflecting mirrors 120, 122 can also be simple plane mirrors, for example.
  • Fig. 3 shows the functionally essential assemblies in the stationary / partially movable part 106 in interaction with the straightening unit 108.
  • These are a control unit 3.1 and evaluation software 3.2 of the control, an optical sensor 2.1 of the lighting laser system and an optical component 4.1 and the telescope 4.2 of the
  • the optical component 4.1 of the beam guidance module 4 enables precise beam deflection for precise positioning of the laser beam 124 on the target 132.
  • the optical component 4.1 can be a tip / tilt mirror, a movable mirror that can be controlled in two axes (fine tracking).
  • the lighting laser itself is not housed in the container.
  • a telescope of the illumination laser system is therefore designated by 2.2, which is not shown in this illustration together with the laser source 110 stationary / partially mobile part (container) is housed. However, there is no difference in the mode of operation.
  • the beam guidance module 102 furthermore comprises at least one camera (not shown in more detail).
  • the direction of observation of the at least one camera is the same as the direction of the laser beam.
  • the camera or cameras should be able to work in different spectral ranges (observation wavelengths).
  • the at least one camera serves at least to observe the target 132 or the space around the target 132.
  • the position of the target 132 can also be determined with the at least one camera.
  • Their image evaluation can provide a control signal for the beam deflection.
  • elements to compensate for atmospheric disturbances can be provided within the beam guidance module (optional).
  • detectors for measuring atmospheric disturbances such as Shack-Hartmann
  • Wavefront sensor as well as controllable optical elements for regulating the phase front of the laser beam, such as deformable mirrors.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif à faisceau laser (10) pour générer un faisceau laser effectif (20) et un faisceau laser d'éclairage (18), comportant un élément de couplage (30) destiné à coupler le faisceau laser d'éclairage (18) dans un trajet de faisceau du faisceau laser effectif (20). Le dispositif à faisceau laser est caractérisé en ce que l'élément de couplage (30) présente une première sous-région (54) et une seconde sous-région (56) qui est différente de la première sous-région (54), et le faisceau laser effectif (20), le faisceau laser d'éclairage (18) et l'élément de couplage (30) sont disposés l'un par rapport à l'autre de telle sorte que le faisceau laser effectif (20) est dirigé sur la première région partielle (54) et le faisceau laser d'éclairage (18) est dirigé sur la seconde région partielle (56), la première région partielle (54) étant transparente pour le faisceau laser effectif (20) et la deuxième région partielle (56) étant conçue pour réfléchir le faisceau laser d'éclairage (18) parallèlement au faisceau laser effectif (20).
EP21737392.7A 2020-06-26 2021-06-25 Dispositif à faisceau laser avec couplage d'un faisceau laser d'éclairage en un faisceau laser effectif Pending EP4172649A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102020003944.8A DE102020003944B3 (de) 2020-06-26 2020-06-26 Laserstrahlvorrichtung mit einer Einkopplung eines Beleuchtungslaserstrahls in einen Wirklaserstrahl
PCT/EP2021/067478 WO2021260172A1 (fr) 2020-06-26 2021-06-25 Dispositif à faisceau laser avec couplage d'un faisceau laser d'éclairage en un faisceau laser effectif

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4172649A1 true EP4172649A1 (fr) 2023-05-03

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EP21737392.7A Pending EP4172649A1 (fr) 2020-06-26 2021-06-25 Dispositif à faisceau laser avec couplage d'un faisceau laser d'éclairage en un faisceau laser effectif

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US (1) US20230130871A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP4172649A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU2021295584A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA3187648A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE102020003944B3 (fr)
WO (1) WO2021260172A1 (fr)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113365568A (zh) * 2019-01-15 2021-09-07 波士顿科学医学有限公司 对准方法和工具
DE102021124548A1 (de) 2021-09-22 2023-03-23 MAX-PLANCK-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. Sicherheitsvorrichtung und Verfahren zur Überwachung eines Lichtwegs eines Laserstrahls und deren Anwendungen

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4395616A (en) * 1980-12-17 1983-07-26 United Technologies Corporation Continuous-wave plasma-assisted radiation treatment of reflective solids
DE69232640T2 (de) 1991-11-06 2003-02-06 Shui T Lai Vorrichtung für hornhautchirurgie
US5767941A (en) * 1996-04-23 1998-06-16 Physical Sciences, Inc. Servo tracking system utilizing phase-sensitive detection of reflectance variations
US6134050A (en) * 1998-11-25 2000-10-17 Advanced Laser Technologies, Inc. Laser beam mixer
DE102006023321B4 (de) 2006-05-18 2011-08-18 Coherent Lambda Physik GmbH, 37079 System zur Fokusüberwachung bei der Bearbeitung eines reflektierenden Substrates mittels eines Laserstrahls
US8218589B1 (en) * 2008-07-28 2012-07-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force High-energy laser atmospheric compensation and aimpoint maintenance
US8983259B2 (en) 2012-05-04 2015-03-17 Raytheon Company Multi-function beam delivery fibers and related system and method
FR3039287B1 (fr) * 2015-07-22 2020-03-27 Arianegroup Sas Procede et dispositif pour securiser un espace traverse par un faisceau laser de forte puissance
DE102018100891A1 (de) 2018-01-16 2019-07-18 Rheinmetall Waffe Munition Gmbh Hochleistungslaser, insbesondere Laserwaffe

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WO2021260172A1 (fr) 2021-12-30
AU2021295584A1 (en) 2023-02-02
CA3187648A1 (fr) 2021-12-30
DE102020003944B3 (de) 2021-07-29
US20230130871A1 (en) 2023-04-27

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