Prototype Burst Laser for Standoff Mine Neutralization

Research on the use of high-power lasers to neutralize mines, munitions, and unexploded ordnance has led to development of a mobile system with a 500 W continuous laser for standoff neutralization of surface-laid munitions. The typical neutralization eventis a low order deflagration of the energetic material accomplished by laser heating the casing. The present laser technique will not neutralize buried land mines because the power is too low to move the soil over the mine. In Phase I of this SBIR, it wasdemonstrated that higher power lasers (> 10 kW average power) could move the soil out of the way and heat the mine casing. In Phase II, a prototype laser device with average power greater than 10 kW will be built in a configuration that will be readilyadaptable to installation in a mobile ground vehicle for the buried mine-neutralization mission. This laser device will take advantage of innovative Nd:glass burst laser technology and advanced energy-storage components. In essence, a small generatorwill continuously charge an energy storage device between neutralization sequences at which times the stored energy is converted to a powerful laser beam. This beam will be capable of digging through soil of various types to neutralize the mine in lessthan 10 seconds.The burst laser system (BLS) will provide a greatly enhanced capability for military services to implement rapid and safe mine clearing operations. The BLS will be cost-effective and will be made available for humanitarian mineneutralization as well. In addition to these missions, the burst laser will find application in industrial materials processing such as intermittent deep-penetration welding.