FAR INFRARED LASER COUNTERMEASURES (FIRLCM)

ADVANCES IN CO2 LASER AND SENSOR TECHNOLOGY HAVE LED TO A PROLIFERATION OF TACTICAL SYSTEMS OPERATING IN THE FAR INFRARED SPECTRAL REGION (8-12 MICRONS). SOME EXAMPLES ARE LASER RANGEFINDERS, DESIGNATORS, BEAMRIDERS, SEARCH TRACK SETS, COMMUNICATORS, RADAR AND PERHAPS HIGH ENERGY LASER WEAPONS. TO COUUNTER ENEMY USE OF SUCH SYSTEMS, JAMMING AND COLLECTING SYSTEMS WHICH EMPLOY LASERS OF MODEST POWER OPERATING WITHIN THE SPECTRAL PASS-BAND OF THE THREAT WOULD BE DESIRABLE. A MODULATABLE, WAVELENGTH AGILE, EXTREMELY COMPACT FOR INFRARED LASER OF MODEST AVERAGE OUTPUT POWERS COULD BE EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE FOR INFRARED COUNTERMEASURES AND OPTINT COLLECTIONS APPLICATIONS. A PULSED DISCHARGE CO2 LASER EMPLOYING A UNIQUE ELECTRIC DISCHARGE GAIN GENERATOR CONFIGURATION PROMISES SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN EFFICIENCY, COMPACTNESS, AND RELIABILITY. THE PROPOSED PROGRAM WILL EXAMINE OPTIMUM RESONATOR CONFIGURATIONS FOR THIS UNCONVENTIONAL GAIN GENERATOR INCLUDING THE VIABILITY OF DIAMOND TURNED ASPERIC OPTICS. IN ADDITION, THE FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNING AND FABRICATING SHARP CUTOFF THIN FILM COATINGS, NARROWBAND SPIKE FILTERS,AND MAXIMUM REFLECTORS TO PREFERENTIALLY SELECT DESIRED OUTPUT LINES OF THE CO2 WILL BE EXPLORED. AN ATTRACTIVE FEATURE OF THIS UNCONVENTIONAL LASER CONFIGURATION IS THE POTENTIAL FOR EXTREME MINIATURIZATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO EXPENDABLE INFRARED DECOY APPLICATIONS.