HEL Engagement Image Generation for Hyperspectral Tracking (HEIGHT)

ABSTRACT: With the progression of solid state laser technology, the deployment of a tactical directed energy weapon (DEW) system is soon to be realized. However, recent demonstration systems have revealed new challenges related to system tracking due to interference between the HEL delivery and the tracking imagery. These effects include thermal radiation, plasma formation, and undesired measurement of the HEL in the tracking sensor. Due to the extensive cost of DEW testing and the complexity of the tracking systems, it is crucial to be able to simulate engagements in a lab environment for system development. However, current scene generators used for this purpose do not effectively model these HEL-induced effects. Adsys Controls proposes to develop a scene generation tool leveraging on existing scene generators, HEL-effects material research, and existing wave optics code coupled with new HEL/material interaction research. The result will be a high fidelity modular tactical scene generation tool capable of being integrated with DE tracking systems and components for laboratory and ground-based testing. BENEFIT: The technology developed under this topic fills a critical existing technology gap in directed energy system weapon development. In particular, the resultant product will allow for a better understanding of the artifacts occuring during a tactical directed energy engagement. This is critical for development of DE weapon system tracking systems where it is cost and schedule inhibative to develop future systems without this capability. In addition to the military benefits on directed energy programs, other commercial industries could utilize the technology. These include but are not limited to commercial welding, medical laser surgery, and laser-based silicon manufacturing. Each of these industries rely on precision placed high power lasers and often use closed loop imaging for beam control. A tool that allows for simulation of the observed effects on the imaging system during the laser employment will help promote the development of next generation systems while reducing development time and cost.