RU2549742C2 - Laser system for obtaining high, therefore compact, power densities on object - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics, optics.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to a weapon system and a method of damaging/destroying a remote object with a high-power weapon system. The system comprises at least one firing control system, at least one radar set, at least one analysis and processing device and two or more laser guns. The laser guns can be spaced apart and each consists of an active laser, a telescope as the optical system of at least one tilting mirror, one deformable mirror, an analysis and control device having an adaptive optical system, a precision display system and an optical device in the weapon system is centralised or in the laser gun and at least one tilting mirror, as well as the deformable mirror are placed on the laser beam path. The method of damaging/destroying objects includes: detecting an object, transmitting information to the firing control system, activating precision display system, using a precision tracking device to move the target for each laser gun to the middle of the optical system thereof, irradiating the target with the laser, which directs the corresponding active laser and therefore each laser gun for reflection, using the control system to recheck and activate the active laser, owing to which multiple separate beams are generated and directed to a common point on the object.

EFFECT: designing a high-energy laser system which achieves compact power density on an object.

14 cl, 6 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the implementation of a high power density at remote objects so that they can be affected and / or destroyed. Based on this, in a high power laser system, very good beam quality is provided.

Lasers are classified and accordingly divided into low-energy lasers, medium-energy lasers, high-energy lasers.

A method for adaptively controlling a beam of medium-energy laser weapons is described in DE 19804720 B4. The medium-energy weapon has a medium-energy laser and a control device with an infrared camera, a computing device and laser power controls, and, to set the required diameter of the laser beam on the target, a laser beam with an initially low laser beam power is sent to the measurement stage, which then progressively increases to the maximum possible beam power.

A device with a laser system for irradiating a target is the subject of DE 10252685 B4. The laser installation, for its part, consists of a generating-amplifying system, which in the first mode of operation can be used in the low-energy field as a targeting laser, and in the second mode of operation as a high-energy laser.

Other laser systems are described in EP 0980123 A2, EP 1041686 A2, as well as in US 4867534 A.

EP 1 730 822 B discloses a hybrid laser source that is scalable to form a high power output beam with good beam quality. The laser source includes, among other things, a solid-state laser amplifier, the installation of fiber-optic laser amplifiers, phase and polarization sensors, as well as means for controlling the phase and polarization of the elements of the installation of fiber-optic laser amplifiers, etc.

High-energy lasers have good beam quality only in the power range up to about 10 kW. As a consequence, high-energy lasers, for example with laser powers of more than 20 kW and with good beam quality, are difficult to implement. Further, fracture thresholds for optical components limit the maximum allowable laser power for a given aperture.

From DE 102007049436 B4, a high-power laser optical fiber installation is known, which consists of a plurality of continuously operating coherent individual optical fiber lasers, to which the pumping energy is supplied by branching to individual optical fiber lasers from a common main oscillator operating in the longitudinal mode or from fiber splitter (separator). The radiation leaving the fiber array is aimed at the target or aiming point, the corresponding phase differences in individual fiber laser branches being determined and evaluated in electronic control equipment for regulation to achieve optimal phase synchronization of the fiber branches of the fiber laser array for the intensity of the emitted laser beam at a point aiming.

The objective of the invention is to provide a device and method by which it is possible to realize a high-energy laser system that achieves a compact power density at the facility.

This problem is solved by the signs of paragraphs 1, respectively 9 of the claims. Preferred embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

The main idea of the invention is the distribution of power to several lasers and their geometric superposition on the target so that the total power density of all the individual power densities is achieved in total on the target. That is, it is envisaged to create the necessary power density through two or more separate laser systems (laser channels), respectively, of small blocks that are so synchronized with each other (for example, by means of a spectral or optical array) that they create half (X / 2), third ( X / 3) or the fourth (X / 4) part, and so on, of the necessary, respectively, required density of the laser beam with good radiation quality, which is geometrically superimposed on the target (total picture) in order to affect the object s total power density (5). If only two laser systems-channels are used, then each channel should bring increased power compared to the case when three, four or more channels are paired.

For optimal geometric overlap, a backlight system is used, preferably a laser, which marks the irradiated area on the object. The reflection of the backlight signal from the object is recorded by the laser system, preferably using the same telescope, respectively, of the optical system through which the laser beam is to be emitted. By pointing the telescope into reflection, respectively, using an accurate tracking system, it is guaranteed that the laser beams irradiate the marked area and thus increase the power density in the marked area. Thus, in addition, first-order atmospheric changes can be compensated.

The backlight laser can work mainly in two modes of operation: continuous (CW), pulsed. In continuous operation, the wavelength of the backlight laser should be different from the wavelength of the laser system, while in the laser system for analysis, the reflection of the signal of the backlight laser from the signal of the laser system can be separated.

In pulsed operation, both the backlight laser and the laser system have the same wavelengths. Due to the artificial pulsed mode of operation, both the backlight laser and the laser system ensure that the laser system analyzes only the reflection of the backlight laser (the backlight laser emits, the laser system receives).

Each of two or more laser channels is combined into a combined laser beam design / array. Alternatively, along with spectral synchronization, geometric or phase synchronization is also possible. The rays incident on the lattice are so synchronized and again out of sync that they emitted through an optical system, such as a telescope, hit the target (object) together. If other laser channels are provided, then the resulting beam is also aimed at the target, and it geometrically overlaps the target with the beam of another laser channel. This takes place then also on other channels. Due to the geometric overlap, the power on the target is increased.

Two or more blocks (capacities) can be directed onto one grid. The number of induced blocks in this case depends on the possibility of power grating. The laser (block) and the lattice, for their part, are multiples of the joint system with the possibility of mixing and, on the other hand, with the possibility of pointing at a joint mirror. The grating may be dielectric or also optical in nature to enable spectral synchronization.

It is shown that laser systems, respectively blocks, can be installed directly next to each other or at some distance from each other. Removing a few hundred meters is not a problem. Each laser system has at the same time, along with its own laser source, its own telescope and preferably its own tracking device.

The technical result for a laser system or for a laser weapon is that instead of a separate large aperture, distribute the total aperture into several small apertures, which, as a rule, contain the same components.

The key components for a functional way of operating a laser system, in particular such as a laser weapon or a weapon laser, are an intelligence system, for example a radar, a device for obtaining a detailed image for detecting vulnerable points of a target, a coarse and accurate tracking device, a beam forming device, a laser backlight and the high-energy laser itself is a source of laser radiation. Each of the small blocks has these components, and a backlight laser, a radar and a detailed image acquisition device do not have to be in each block. Decentralized pairing of the backlight laser, radar, and detailed image acquisition devices for all units is also possible. This makes possible the modular nature of the blocks with which the system / weapon can be built like modules. Two or more blocks can be combined into one module. Also, these modules can be combined into other modules.

These small blocks can, for their part, be replaced by small blocks with the aforementioned components. In this case, it will be possible to resort to always simple and ordinary and at the same time easily accessible components. System / weapon flexibility is enhanced. In addition, the modules themselves are, in principle, small-sized, light, respectively compact, weapons. When a small block fails, the system / weapon has the ability to function, albeit with less power.

Since the blocks can also be placed at a distance, they are distributed in several places, for example, also in several cars, etc. These units can also be locally connected to a high-energy laser system only by aiming at a target. Local power can also vary by the number of units. So several ordinary individual lasers, for example, with a power of only 5 kW, can produce a beam that is a multiple of five, for example 20 kW or more. The creation of a laser beam with a power of about 100 kW or more with good beam quality of an individual laser is realized as a result of this in a simple way.

The proposed provides, along with a reduction in the implementation time for laser weapons, also a reduction in cost, since small (output) apertures can be used. Moreover, the idea is not limited to high-energy laser systems. Moreover, this idea can also be carried over to low-energy lasers and medium-energy lasers.

An idea has also been found to provide a solution, in particular for obtaining high power through n * X individual lasers with a single aperture and selectively available. The imposition of power at the facility by means of variable distances of the (separate) telescope of the laser system is proposed.

By way of the exemplary embodiments presented in the drawings, the invention is explained in more detail.

Shown:

figure 1 - a thumbnail image of the basic principle of a device for creating a laser with sufficient power;

figure 2 is a further form of connecting several individual lasers to a common or partial laser system;

figure 3 - the main components for a weapon system;

figure 4 - image of a laser weapon for the weapon system according to figure 3, (only high-energy laser (HEL), adaptive optics (AO), there is no device for obtaining a detailed image, rough tracking device, radar, analysis device, fire control system);

5 is a fundamental image of the main idea.

Figa, b represent a simplified image of the basic principle of the device 1 for the implementation of (high-energy) laser. This device 1 can also be used to process material, for example, at a great distance, in which the object also moves. In this case, the laser 1 is formed by two separate lasers 2, 3 or several separate lasers 4-7. The beams of 50 individual lasers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are projected onto target 15 and geometrically superimposed on it so that laser power of about 40 kW is generated on target 15 by two lasers 2, 3 with each respectively about 20 kW or four lasers 4-7 with a power of about 10 kW, etc.

Individual lasers 2-7, for their part, can also consist of two or more separate lasers 8, 9, 10, 11, etc. (figure 2). Rays (for example, 5 kW) emanating from the pre-amplifier 12 are guided through the mirror 32 and from there to the joint grating 13. From the grating 13, a beam 50 received on the grating 13 is emitted in the direction of the target.

Using this basic principle, a laser weapon will now be created, respectively a weapon system 100. The weapon system 100 itself has, in addition to the fire control system and radar 101, an analysis and processing device 103, as well as two or more laser weapon systems 20. In addition, a central coarse tracking device 104 is preferably provided, which provides coarse the orientation of the individual laser weapons 20 to the target / object 15.

A separate laser weapon 20 for its part consists of at least the main components of the (active) laser 21 and its own (receiving and active) telescope 25 (also with different beam diameters), and also, in this embodiment of the invention, includes one own telescope 26 backlight and laser 27 backlight. Alternatively, a laser with a telescope illumination can also act for all laser weapon systems 20 included in the weapon system 100. In addition, each laser weapon 20 has adaptive optics 22, an accurate display system 23, and an optical tracking device 24. Each laser weapon 20 further has at least one swinging flat mirror 28, as well as one deformable mirror 29 (for example, part of adaptive optics 22) included in the path of the laser beam. The wavefront sensor 30 serves, as is known, to improve the quality of the beam of the active laser 21. Other SSD cameras (charge-coupled cameras), preferably with a large viewing angle (FOV), are not shown in detail. The device 31 analysis and control complements the laser weapon 20. The functional connections of these components can be understood from figure 3.

To create a stationary laser weapon 20, another mirror 32 is included, which serves to direct the beam inside the weapon 20.

The operation of the weapon system 100 is described simply as follows.

By means of a radar, an object 15 is detected and this information is in a known manner transmitted to a fire control system 101. After that, the display system 6 can be activated in order to obtain sufficient information for hitting vulnerable points on the target 15. Through the accurate tracking system 7, the target 15 falls for each weapon 20 in the middle of its optics. The target 15 then laser illumination 27 irradiates each weapon 20, the corresponding active laser 21 and, at the same time, directs each laser weapon 20 to reflection. All laser weapon systems 20 see the same reflection and the axes of the laser beams are directed to the same spot on the object 15. The verification is carried out by the fire control system, which then activates the active lasers 21, several beams 50 are generated and sent to the common a point on the object 15, which are superimposed on this place in such a way that the required power density on the object 15 is achieved, and it is accordingly damaged and / or destroyed.

The laser beam of each laser weapon (system) 20 is subjected to its own atmospheric influence. This, however, can be eliminated due to its own swinging flat mirror 28 and, if necessary, due to its own deformable mirror 29 so that the precise superposition of the beams 50 of the laser weapon 20 on the target 15 is achieved.

If several laser backlight and several laser weapon systems 20 are aimed at the target 15, it is possible to split the laser power into different targets. For a certain period of time, individual laser weapon systems 20 are aimed at target 15. Then, some laser weapon systems 20 can be redirected to a new target in advance and, in the same way, these laser weapon systems (groups) 20 can be guided by the corresponding laser backlight.

To distinguish each backlight laser, they can emit with different wavelengths, respectively modulation (input / output, amplitude modulation). The analysis system for the backlight laser then applies appropriate separation technologies to distinguish between the individual backlight lasers.

Claims (14)

1. Weapon system containing at least one fire control system, at least one radar, at least one analysis and processing device, as well as two or more laser weapons, which can be located at a distance from each other, consisting of an active laser, telescope as own optics of at least one swinging mirror, one deformable mirror, as well as an analysis and control device, moreover, there is adaptive optics, an accurate display system and an optical device in the gun is centralized or in a laser weapon and at least one swinging mirror and a deformable mirror are included in the path of the laser beam. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that two or more separate lasers form a laser weapon and create a separate beam, respectively, and individual beams of individual lasers are projected onto the target and geometrically imposed on it. 3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that there is, preferably, a central coarse tracking device. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the laser weapons can be several hundred meters. 5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a wavefront sensor. 6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the laser weapon contains a telescope illumination, as well as a laser illumination. 7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the backlight laser and the backlight telescope are decentralized for all laser weapons included in the weapon system. 8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the telescope optics has different beam diameters. 9. The method of damage / destruction of a remote object by the weapon system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the object is detected, this information is transmitted to the fire control system, the accurate display system is activated, with the help of the exact tracking device, the target is moved for each laser weapon in the middle of it optics, then the target is irradiated with a laser to illuminate each laser weapon, which directs the corresponding active laser, and thereby each laser weapon, is reflected by means of a control system and the act an active laser is generated, due to which several individual beams are generated and directed to a common point on the object. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the individual rays create through geometric, or spectral, or phase synchronization. 11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the individual beams emanating from the preamplifier are directed through the mirror and from there to the joint grating and from the grating, a separate beam received on the grating is emitted in the direction of the object. 12. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that its own atmospheric damage is eliminated by means of its own swinging flat mirror and, if necessary, by means of its own deformable mirror. 13. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that to distinguish each backlight laser, they are emitted with different wavelengths, respectively modulation, namely, input / output, amplitude modulation. 14. The method according to any one of claims 9, 10, 12, 13, characterized in that with several backlight lasers and several weapon lasers, laser power can be divided into various objects.

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