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Title: Airborne Tactical Free-Electron Laser

Abstract

The goal of 100 kilowatts (kW) of directed energy from an airborne tactical platform has proved challenging due to the size and weight of most of the options that have been considered. However, recent advances in Free-Electron Lasers appear to offer a solution along with significant tactical advantages: a nearly unlimited magazine, time structures for periods from milliseconds to hours, radar like functionality, and the choice of the wavelength of light that best meets mission requirements. For an Airborne Tactical Free-Electron Laser (ATFEL) on a platforms such as a Lockheed C-130J-30 and airships, the two most challenging requirements, weight and size, can be met by generating the light at a higher harmonic, aggressively managing magnet weights, managing cryogenic heat loads using recent SRF R&D results, and using FEL super compact design concepts that greatly reduce the number of components. The initial R&D roadmap for achieving an ATFEL is provided in this paper. Performing this R&D is expected to further reduce the weight, size and power requirements for the FELs the Navy is currently developing for shipboard applications, as well as providing performance enhancements for the strategic airborne MW class FELs. The 100 kW ATFEL with its tactical advantages may provemore » sufficiently attractive for early advancement in the queue of deployed FELs.« less

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (TJNAF), Newport News, VA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE - Office of Energy Research (ER)
OSTI Identifier:
902777
Report Number(s):
JLAB-CIO-07-02; DOE/OR/23177-0037
TRN: US200719%%22
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-06OR23177
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Ninth Annual Directed Energy Symposium, October 30-November 2, 2006, Albuquerque, NM
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; AIRCRAFT; DESIGN; FREE ELECTRON LASERS; PERFORMANCE; LASER WEAPONS; Free-electron laser, FEL, laser, airborne, tactical, megawatt, airship, relay mirror, submarine

Citation Formats

Whitney, Roy, and Neil, George. Airborne Tactical Free-Electron Laser. United States: N. p., 2007. Web.
Whitney, Roy, & Neil, George. Airborne Tactical Free-Electron Laser. United States.
Whitney, Roy, and Neil, George. 2007. "Airborne Tactical Free-Electron Laser". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/902777.
@article{osti_902777,
title = {Airborne Tactical Free-Electron Laser},
author = {Whitney, Roy and Neil, George},
abstractNote = {The goal of 100 kilowatts (kW) of directed energy from an airborne tactical platform has proved challenging due to the size and weight of most of the options that have been considered. However, recent advances in Free-Electron Lasers appear to offer a solution along with significant tactical advantages: a nearly unlimited magazine, time structures for periods from milliseconds to hours, radar like functionality, and the choice of the wavelength of light that best meets mission requirements. For an Airborne Tactical Free-Electron Laser (ATFEL) on a platforms such as a Lockheed C-130J-30 and airships, the two most challenging requirements, weight and size, can be met by generating the light at a higher harmonic, aggressively managing magnet weights, managing cryogenic heat loads using recent SRF R&D results, and using FEL super compact design concepts that greatly reduce the number of components. The initial R&D roadmap for achieving an ATFEL is provided in this paper. Performing this R&D is expected to further reduce the weight, size and power requirements for the FELs the Navy is currently developing for shipboard applications, as well as providing performance enhancements for the strategic airborne MW class FELs. The 100 kW ATFEL with its tactical advantages may prove sufficiently attractive for early advancement in the queue of deployed FELs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/902777}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2007},
month = {Thu Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 2007}
}

Conference:
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