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U.S. Department of Energy
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Phased Array Laser System (PALS). Final report, July 1985-July 1986

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5065616
This final report for the Phased Array Laser System (PALS) project presents analyses and design approaches for a high-brightness space-based HF phase-conjugate laser system answering current SDI needs. These efforts, both analytic and subscale experimental, are first steps toward a conceptual design for an SDI SBL system with substantial advantages over conventional non-phase-conjugate systems. The analyses deal with the master oscillator, power amplifier, phase conjugation, and beam-director subsystems. ALPHA-type devices comprising the MOPA are modeled with the ANOM/CLAM/LFCM codes. The assembly for separating the high-power conjugated beam from the low-power master oscillator beam is modeled with a French polarization grating code and U of Arizona and OCLI quarter-wave retarder codes. A phase-conjugator SBS cell with 40-atm xenon is modeled with BOUNCE/BRIWON codes. Multisegmented primary and monolithic secondary-mirror beam-director assemblies are modeled with wave optics codes develolped in this project. Subscale experiments on xenon gas and CCl/sub 4/ liquid SBS phase-conjugation-explored dependence of SBS reflectivity and conjugation fidelity on parameters such as beam quality degradation by aberrators and on the f/number of the focusing geometry.
Research Organization:
TRW Space and Technology Group, Redondo Beach, CA (USA). Applied Technology Div.
OSTI ID:
5065616
Report Number(s):
AD-A-169635/0/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English