Mobile tactical high energy laser weapon system and method for generating a high energy laser beam
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Corporation
InventorsDale L. Hook, Josef Shwartz, Jeffery L. Sollee, Ethan W. Brigham, Milton H. Gran
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Abstract
A laser weapon system using a high energy deuterium fluoride (DF) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) laser, for which all necessary reactants and other materials are carried on an easily movable vehicle. Reactant gases are stored mixed with a diluent gas, such as helium, for ease of handling and to provide nearly ideal gas behavior. Cooling water for the laser is also employed in a high pressure steam generator that uses diesel fuel and oxygen to produce heat. Apart from a fluorine generator, the system uses only four storage tanks for reactant gases.
Claims17
A conveniently movable high energy laser weapon system, comprising:
- a deuterium fluoride (DF) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) laser assembly, for generating a continuous wave (CW) high energy laser beam, the laser assembly including a gain generator assembly, a heat exchanger and an ejector;
- a supply of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) coupled to the laser assembly;
- a supply of combustor fuel coupled to the laser assembly;
- a fluorine igniter coupled to the laser assembly;
- a deuterium (D2) or hydrogen (H2) supply coupled to the laser assembly;
- a water supply coupled to supply cooling water to the laser assembly;
- a high pressure steam generator coupled to receive water from the heat exchanger of the laser assembly, to provide steam to the ejector of the laser assembly;
- beam director optics, for directing the laser beam in a selected angular direction;
- and
- a vehicle on which all components of the high energy laser weapon system are mounted for operation and convenient transportation, the vehicle having a conventional engine.
A method for generating a continuous wave (CW) high energy laser beam on a movable vehicle, comprising the steps of supplying ignite fluorine to the laser assembly:
- supplying other reactant gases to a deuterium fluoride (DF) or hydrogen fluoride (HF) laser assembly;
- initiating lasing in an optical cavity in the laser assembly and outputting a high energy laser beam from the optical cavity;
- supplying cooling water to the laser assembly;
- recovering heated cooling water from the laser assembly;
- generating high pressure steam from the recovered cooling water and supplying the steam to an ejector component of the laser assembly;
- and
- directing the high energy laser beam in a selected angular direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.