Abstract
This paper reviews the status and applications of a defensive weapon based on high power lasers, in the battlefield. Laser weapon is a novel concept which utilizes high power laser beam to traverse the distance into incoming objects at a speed of light, and then, destroy or disable it. Various types of lasers and configurations will be discussed in this review including gas lasers, solid state lasers, fiber lasers and the free-electron laser. We will discuss various configurations such as airborne laser (ABL), diode pumped crystals and disk lasers as well as heat-capacity lasers. Recent applications of ultrafast solid state lasers for non-lethal or low collateral damage applications will be presented.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 457-460 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Optical Materials |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- ABL
- Chemical lasers
- Disk laser
- Fiber lasers
- Laser weapon
- Solid state laser
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Spectroscopy
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering