The alpha program journal of directed energy

The integrand for determining the ensemble-averaged irradiance is not separable, but the expression for the ensemble-averaged irradiance has been reduced to an integral of a function of three variables that is amenable to numerical evaluation.

For a given outer beam diameter and obscuration, it is found that the power in the bucket is well fit by an expression similar to that for an ideal Gaussian beam but with two parameters instead of one. The first parameter is similar to conventional beam quality while the second accounts for wide-angle dispersion of the beam in the focal plane. The parameters are weakly dependent on jitter. As airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ISR payloads become more capable and operating environments become more contested, assured ISR backhaul from airborne nodes will become challenged.

Lasercomm provides a solution to these challenges. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Technology readiness level only tells a part of the system maturation story.

As technologies are developed to become part of systems designed to meet operational needs, there are also integration and manufacturing issues to consider. In , the Alpha laser 2. In the Space Pointing Integrated Controls Experiment offered near weapons level results during testing.

Most recently, the Alpha LAMP Integration ALI program has performed integrated high energy ground testing of the laser and beam expander to demonstrate the critical system elements. The next step is an integrated space vehicle ground test with a space demonstration to conclusively prove the feasibility of deploying an operational SBL system.

Designs for the SBLRD satellite call for four major subsystems: the ATP system; providing acquisition, tracking, targeting, stabilization, and assessment capabilities; the laser device, providing the optical power, and beam quality, as well as maintains nozzle efficiency; the optics and beam control systems, enhancing and focus the beam, augmenting the capabilities of the laser device; and the space systems, providing a stable platform, storage of the reactants, and furnish electrical power but do not power the laser.

The objectives of the space demonstration include gaining performance information critical to the development of an operational SBL system, as well as gain a general understanding of operating such a system.

Because the design was intended for sea level operation, the MIRACL laser does not achieve the optimum efficiency necessary for space-based operation.

DARPA launched the Alpha laser program, with the goal of developing a megawatt level SBL that was scaleable to more powerful weapon levels and optimized for space operation. In this design, stacked cylindrical rings of nozzles are used for reactant mixing.

The gain generation assembly achieves higher power by simply stacking more rings. In , the Alpha laser demonstrated megawatt class power levels similar to MIRACL, but in a low pressure, space operation environment. Alpha demonstrates that multi-megawatt, space-compatible lasers can be built and operated. To demonstrate the ability to fabricate the large mirror required by an SBL, the Large Advanced Mirror Program LAMP built a lightweight, segmented 4 m diameter mirror on which testing was completed in Tests verified that the surface optical figure and quality desired were achieved, and that the mirror was controlled to the required tolerances by adaptive optics adjustments.

This mirror consists of a 17 mm thick facesheet bonded to fine figure actuators that are mounted on a graphite epoxy supported reaction structure. To this day, this is the largest mirror completed for use in space. The current high power beam control technology is now being integrated with the Alpha laser and the LAMP mirror in a high power ground demonstration of the entire high energy laser weapon element.

The ATP technologies required sensors, optics, processors, etc. Copyright Statement. Other availability. Search WorldCat to find libraries that may hold this journal. Cited by: 7 works. Citation information provided by Web of Science. LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr. Works referenced in this record: Recent magneto-inertial fusion experiments on the field reversed configuration heating experiment journal , August Degnan, J.

Nuclear Fusion, Vol. Ignition conditions for magnetized target fusion in cylindrical geometry journal , January Basko, M. Seeding magnetic fields for laser-driven flux compression in high-energy-density plasmas journal , April Gotchev, O. Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. Compressing magnetic fields with high-energy lasers journal , May Knauer, J.

Physics of Plasmas, Vol. The Modern Air Combat Environment MACE , a physics-based, many-on-many simulation and threat environment with a large order of battle, is ideally suited for both standalone mission rehearsal and distributed mission simulation. The Next Generation Threat System NGTS has been used to model enemy and friendly aircraft, ground units, ships and submarines, associated weapons, sensors, and subsystems.

The integration of analytical capabilities see Figures 1 and 3 into future wargames enables AFRL to probe the military utility of emerging technologies and offers an opportunity to evaluate their impact on the battlespace and how they can augment the total force to improve its effectiveness.

To facilitate integration, the AFRL wargaming staff is also exploring the use of commercial off-the-shelf COTS tools that offer large-scale flexibility ranging from detailed models to advanced, near real-time, mission and campaign simulations. The exploration focuses on tools with readily-available databases that address the capabilities and limitations of a variety of war fighting assets within the full range of military operations. Once an overarching tool has been identified as the foundation for AFRL war-gaming, a common data format will be established for the exchange of information with other models and simulations.

Figure 3. Retweet Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin reddit. Figure 2.