EYE PROTECTION RESEARCH

THE USE OF CONTINUOUS AND PULSED WAVE LASERS IN TARGET DESIGNATION AND COMBAT SITUATIONS IS INCREASING. THERE IS THEREFORE A NEED TO PROTECT COMBAT PERSONNEL AND SENSITIVE SENSING EQUIPMENT FROM ACCIDENTAL EXPOSURE TO LASER RADIATION. THE TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROGRAM ARE TO DEVELOP, CHARACTERIZE AND TEST A LASER FILTER WHICH REMAINS TRANSPARENT AT AMBIENT LIGHT FLUXES, BUT WHICH COULD BE SWITCHED TO A HIGHLY ABSORBING STATE AT FREQUENCIES OF 10 MHZ OR BETTER ON SENSING LASER RADIATION. ONE ADVANTAGE OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM IS THAT IT CAN BE CYCLED BACK AND FORTH MANY TIMES WITHOUT ANY PERMANENT CHANGE. THE PHASE I RESEARCH IS AIMED MAINLY AT CONCEPT FEASIBILITY DEMONSTRATION AND YIELD A SET OF REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ACTIVE MATERIAL. IF PHASE I IS SUCCESSFUL, THE SYNTHESIS PROGRAM WILL BE EXPANDED AND RE-DIRECTED DURING PHASE II IN ORDER TO SYNTHESIZE THE OPTIMUM MATERIAL FOR THIS APPLICATION AND TO DEVELOP THE MOST EFFICIENT SYNTHETIC PROCEDURE FOR LARGE AREA PRODUCTION. MORE DETAILED CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ELECTRICAL, OPTICAL AND INFRA-RED RESPONSE OF THE MATERIAL WILL ALSO BE PERFORMED.