Method for deflecting fast projectiles
AssigneeBAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
InventorJohn L. Barrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for deflecting a projectile from an initial trajectory. Such a projectile has a first surface area and a second surface area and moves through a gaseous atmosphere with a surrounding plasma sheath. This method includes the step of directing electromagnetic radiation toward the projectile, wherein the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength which is absorbed by the plasma sheath but is not substantially absorbed by the gaseous atmosphere.
Claims20
A method for deflecting a projectile from an initial trajectory, said projectile having a first surface area and a second surface area and moving through a gaseous atmosphere with a surrounding plasma sheath, said method comprising the step of:
- directing electromagnetic radiation toward the projectile, wherein said electromagnetic radiation has a frequency which is absorbed by the plasma sheath to a significant degree but is not absorbed by the gaseous atmosphere to a significant degree.
A method for deflecting a projectile from an initial trajectory, said projectile having a first surface area and a second surface area and is moving through a gaseous atmosphere with a surrounding plasma sheath, said method comprising the step of:
- directing electromagnetic radiation toward the projectile, wherein said electromagnetic radiation has a frequency so that the electromagnetic radiation is absorbed to a significant degree by the plasma sheath but is not absorbed to a significant degree by the gaseous atmosphere,
- wherein the electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the first surface area of the projectile in preference to the second surface area of the projectile.
A method for deflecting a projectile from an initial trajectory, said projectile having a first surface area and a second surface area and is moving through a gaseous atmosphere with a surrounding plasma sheath, said method comprising the step of:
- directing electromagnetic radiation toward the projectile, wherein said electromagnetic radiation has a frequency which is absorbed by the plasma sheath but is not substantially absorbed by the gaseous atmosphere,
- wherein the electromagnetic radiation causes the plasma sheath to be heated, and the plasma sheath has a first section adjacent the first surface area of the projectile and a second section adjacent the second surface area of the projectile and there is a temperature differential between said first section and said second section of the plasma sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.