NOVEL METHODS FOR PROTECTION OF PERSONNEL AGAINST LASERS

WE PROPOSE TO DEVELOP A NEW LIGHT SHUTTER APPROACH TO PROVIDE OCULAR PROTECTION FOR PERSONNEL AGAINST LASER RADIATION. THE LIGHT SHUTTER INVOLVES THE APPLICATION OF A REVERSE PHASE MODE POLYMER DISPERSED LIQUID CRYSTAL (PDLC) WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN OUR LABORATORIES. THE REVERSE PHASE MODE PDLC SYSTEM PROVIDES LC ALIGNMENT AND THUS GOOD OPTICAL TRANSMISSION IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY APPLIED FIELDS. THIS OPTICAL ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN OBTAINED USING A PROPRIETARY APPROACH DEVELOPED BY POLYTRONIX, INC. IMPINGEMENT OF LASER RADIATION ON THIS REVERSE PHASE PDLC MATERIAL CONVERTS IT FROM A TRANSMISSIVE TO A SCATTERING (DISPERSIVE) MODE. THE LIGHT SHUTTER LENS DEVELOPED ON THIS PRINCIPLE WILL OPERATE WITHOUT NEED FOR AN APPLIED VOLTAGE OR ANY PHOTODETECTOR SWITCHES. THE ADVANTAGES OF OUR PROPOSED TECHNOLOGYVIS-A-VIS OTHER CURRENT APPROACHES TO LIGHT SHUTTER PROTECTIVE DEVICES ARE DISCUSSED IN THIS PROPOSAL. THE PHASE I WORK EFFORT WILL FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE OPTICAL TRANSMISSION CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REVERSE PHASE MODE PDLC ALIGNMENT AND WILL ALSO INVOLVE DETAILED MEASUREMENTS OF THE RESPONSE TIME OF THIS SHUTTER AT VARIOUS INCIDENT LASER WAVELENGTHS AND POWER DENSITIES. A COMPLETE, FULLY OPERATIONAL LIGHT SHUTTER WOULD CULMINATE THE PHASE I EFFORT.