Extinguishing wildfires with light and other applications

Abstract

A directed energy firefighting device is disclosed to extinguish fires with light, comprising a structured light generator and a directed energy controller for detecting and extinguishing fires remotely and at the speed of light. The device employs structured directed light energy capable of inducing atmospheric avalanche breakdown, generating at least one of sound waves and shockwaves, and dynamically forming space-time acoustic arrays for precise fire suppression. The system may integrate one or more energy sources, including gyrotrons, traveling wave tubes, klystrons, free electron lasers, and others, to produce diffraction-resistant and dynamically structured beams that penetrate through the atmospheric and non-metalic solid physical obstructions. Key features also may include safety mechanisms and artificial intelligence for real-time optimization. Other applications include power beaming, environmental monitoring, medicine, disaster response, and orbital debris clearing are also discussed. A key feature is the ability for arbitrary manipulation of light over large areas.

Description

Extinguishing Wildfires With Light and Other ApplicationsDESCRIPTIONCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Appli- cation No. 63 / 626,795, bled on January 30, 2024, titled Pyrophotoelectrosonic Suppression of Fires Using Directed Light Energy.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This disclosure relates primarily to the structuring of electromag- netic (EM) energy into intense beams of Structured Light with tailored prop- erties that unlock groundbreaking capabilities to extinguish fires and to more gen- erally power, protect, and propel.In particular, structured light can exhibit diffraction-resistant, obscurant- penetrating, self-healing, particle-trapping, plasma-inducing, and curved-propagation trajectories across the EM spectrum, ranging from visible to microwave bands and beyond. These beams can take forms such as “accelerated” EM beams, vortex loops, and other spatial and temporal EM modal structures.This technology provides novel means to transmit energy, manipulate the atmosphere, transport water, penetrate fires, modulate oxygen availability, cool fires, power remote systems, and transmit energy from distant sources, such as solar, geothermal, or modular nuclear reactors. These capabilities are particularly impactful for wildfire mitigation, which is the focus of this disclosure.While a significant portion of this disclosure focuses on wildfire suppression using light, i.e. photopyrokinesis, however, the underlying technology extends to a variety of applications beyond wildfires, further advancing the domains of energy transmission, environmental control, and propulsion.BACKGROUND OF THE PROBLEM

[0003] Modern firefighting technology primarily relies on the application of water and chemicals to suppress fires by disrupting oxygen uptake and cooling fuel below its ignition temperature. This method has been in use for over 300,000 years, dating back to early hominids. While effective, it is resource-intensive, slow, and costly. As wildfires increase in scale and intensity due to accelerating global warm- ing, there is a pressing need for non-chemical methods that reduce cost, accelerate response times, and provide broader area coverage.

[0004] Extreme Wildfire Events (EWEs) are on the rise and are having planetary-scale effects. In recent years, forest fires have accounted for about 20% of the annual 40,000 million metric tons of CO2 emissions globally. While only about 3% of wildfires are classified as extreme, they contribute over 80% of the total associated fire damage and greenhouse gas emissions. Current estimates indicate that forest fires emit approximately 8,250 million metric tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to 2,250 million metric tons of carbon.

[0005] A 2015 paper in Nature Communications by Dr. W. Matt Jolly and colleagues at the U.S. Forest Service concluded that global warming has signifi- cantly extended fire seasons over the preceding 30 years. Fire seasons have length- ened across 25% of the Earth’s surface, doubling the global burnable area in that time. This corresponds to a 2.3% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in both burn area and CO2 emissions. This growth rate suggests a continued increase in wildfire-driven CO2 emissions due to ecological overshoot and global warming.

[0006] If this trend persists, by 2100 the CO2 emissions from forest firescould increase 5.5 times their current levels, surpassing today’s total global CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. In the U.S. alone, the combined direct and indirect annual cost of forest fires is estimated between $500 billion and $1 trillion, according to the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee. This economic burden threatens productivity and the resources available to combat fires effectively. This money could also be better used for other economic activity.

[0007] Dr. James Hansen, a prominent climate scientist and former director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, has warned about the catastrophic consequences of unchecked greenhouse gas emissions. In his 2023 paper, Global warming in the pipeline (Oxford Open Climate Change 3(1)), he predicts that even if greenhouse gas levels were stabilized today, Earth would still experience a 10 °C warming above pre-industrial levels, rendering the planet uninhabitable. Moreover, reducing atmospheric aerosols from pollution could trigger a rapid warming of at least 2 °C, compounding the effects of global warming.

[0008] Another study, Limits to economic growth by Thomas W. Murphy Jr. (Nature Physics, 2022), underscores the unsustainable nature of continued energy consumption growth. He projects that at a growth rate of 2.3% per year, human- ity’s energy usage would reach levels that overwhelm Earth’s natural heat dissipa- tion capabilities within 400 years. Moreover, long before reaching this threshold, perhaps within 100-200 years, catastrophic environmental impacts of heat alone would overwhelm humanity. Wildfires would play a significant part this catastro- phe.

[0009] In simple words, even “clean” fusion energy pollutes with heat into the biosphere. This is a result of the second law of thermodynamics and cannot be avoided. Thus, the fundamental driver of global warming is a requirement for year-on-year economic growth, instead of steady-state economic activity that is matched to earth’s natural capacity to absorb the heat and CO2 emissions from human economic activity.

[0010] These Endings highlight a critical tipping point: even eliminating fossil fuel emissions in the coming decades may not prevent the accelerating effects of global warming if wildfire emissions continue to rise. The scale of this threat necessitates rapid suppression methods to control wildfires and their emissions.[on] This disclosure demonstrates how directed energy and electronic war-fare technology can provide a revolutionary solution to extinguish wildfires both quickly and remotely, potentially mitigating one of the most significant contribu- tors to global warming. This will not stop global warming, but it will help slow it down so that humans can have a little more time to become more than just clever, and instead become wise and reduce the scale of economic activity to be in balance with nature via a new steady-state and worldwide monetary policy.BACKGROUND OF ACOUSTIC FIREFIGHTING

[0012] With this context in mind, we now highlight a significant accidental discovery that took place in 1913. A teenager named Myron Kinley observed that an oil well fire was extinguished when nearby dynamite accidentally exploded. This event led to the widespread use of dynamite in suppressing oil well fires. Myron Kinley may be regarded as the inventor of impulsive acoustic firefighting.

[0013] A second accidental discovery occurred in 1926 when a naturalist named Charles Kellogg conducted multiple demonstrations in New York and Cal- ifornia, showcasing the effect of ’’tonal vibration” on fire. Using tuning forks, Kellogg was able to extinguish fires with sound. This effort was reported in the Geraldton Guardian newspaper, as shown in Fig. 1, which is reproduced im- mediately below with enhanced clarity for the reader’s convenience:The Geraldton Guardian, February 6, 1926, LATEST FIRE FIGHTER, SOUND TONAL VIBRATION. Montreal. Feb. 2, 1926 — A message from New York states that Charles Kellogg, a Californian scientist, gave firemen a demonstration of extinguishing a gas flame two feet high by a sound tonal vibration. Kellogg, passed a bow like a enlarged violin bow, swiftly across an aluminum tuning fork producing a screech like intense radio static. Instantly the yellow [gas] flame [two feet high, leaping inside a hollow glass tube], subsided to a height of six inches, and became a spluttering blue flame. Another “bowing” completely extinguished it. Kellogg, claimed that future buildings would have a scientifically determined pitch, with a screech for extinguishing fires. It would be tuned, in from a central fire house, where a much larger bow would be operated: He said that the General Electric Company were experimenting with the invention.where the words in brackets [] were subsequently found in a footnote in the book “Autobiography of a Yogi, ” first published in 1946 by Paramhansa Yogananda.

[0014] Thus, Charles Kellogg was putting out fires literally with song and low-intensity sound in the early 20th century and he may be considered the inventor of continuous wave (not impulsive shock) acoustic fire suppression in 1926.

[0015] It is interesting to note the circumstance of this discovery by Charles Kellogg. It turns out that he also wrote a book entitled “The Nature Singer,” and published it in a small California press in 1930. Therein, he describes an esoteric skill: his talent for imitating bird songs using his voice. See Figs. 2 and 3.

[0016] Recently, one Ted Gioia, acting as an amateur historian recounts the amazing abilities of Charles Kellogg, in his blog on the Honest Broker in an article called “The Man Who Put Out Fires with Music,” he writes:

[0017] “Kellogg’s skill at imitating bird songs was so accurate that it inspired disbelief. Rumors circulated that his vocal cords were different from other human beings, or that he had some physiological deformity that allowed him to make sounds beyond normal musical capacities. Kellogg was brought to Benjamin Sharp, secretary of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, who in turn enlisted the services of Richard Zeckwer, a scientist and student of the famous physicist Hermann von Helmholtz. A series of tests determined that Kellogg was somehow capable of making bird songs up into a range inaudible to the human ear. While experimenting with the capacities of these higher frequency sounds, Kellogg learned he could extinguish a small flame merely with the sound of his voice. Inspired by this success, he started testing the potential of tuning forks and other implements as firefighting tools. He gave public demonstrations of this seemingly impossible skill, and even caught the attention of the scientists at General Electric, who invited him to their research center to display his techniques.... On August 19, 1926, he undertook a test with the help of General Electric to see whether he could put out a flame over long distance via radio broadcast. Kellogg was sitting in a studio at the General Electric Broadcasting Studio in Oakland, California, and had instructed a friend forty miles away in San Jose to set up a gas burner in front of a radio receiver. Ata signal from Kellogg, the friend ignited the flame and turned it up to its full extent, two feet high, then watched in amazement as the sound of Kellogg’s music-making over the radio extinguished the fire.... This experiment excited such skepticism that Kellogg was enlisted to repeat it for a team of Berkeley scientists. The resulting public test on September 6, broadcast live over KGO, is one of the most remarkable events in the history of radio. Kellogg sat in the studio, while a team of scientists gathered at Berkeley’s LeComte Hall ten miles away with a two-foot flame in front of their radio set. Kellogg proceeded to make the flame dance before finally putting it out. ”

[0018] By the mid-1960s, another pioneer by the name of Red Adair was again innovating and successfully extinguished oil well fires using shaped explosive charges instead of just ad hoc undirected chemical explosives. This method proved to be highly efficient, as it focused the energy of the explosives, effectively depriving the fires of the oxygen and other conditions needed for sustain combustion.

[0019] Many decades later, in 2002, unaware of Charles Kellogg’s work, the current author (Leo DiDomenico) independently conceived the idea of an acous- tic fire suppression system after observing a wildfire on television. This idea was documented in his witnessed invention notebook. However, this concept was set aside as the current author concentrated on other inventions, most notably Op- tometaphoresis (OMP), a technology for controlling electromagnetic radiation. This work culminated in U.S. Patent No. 11,385,516, granted on July 12, 2022, titled “Agile Light Control by Means of Noise, Impulse, and Harmonic Signal- Induced Dielectrophoresis Plus Other Phoretic Forces to Control Optical Shock Waves, Scattering, and the Refractive Index of Colloids”, and Chinese Patent No. CN 110494771B, granted on January 18, 2022, titled “Light Steering and Focusing by Dielectrophoresis” . Additionally, U.S. Patent Application No. 20,210,208,469, hied on February 26, 2021, titled “Light Control by Means of Forced Translation, Rotation, Orientation, and Deformation of Particles Using Dielectrophoresis” , is currently pending. OMP can play a significant role in this disclosure, particularly in the efficient suppression of fires.

[0020] In 2015, researchers Viet Tran and Seth Robertson revisited the idea of using sound to extinguish fires, discovering that very low-frequency sound couldeffectively suppress flames. This discovery led to U.S. Patent No. 10,569,115, published on February 24, 2020, titled “Methods and Systems for Disrupting Phenomena with Waves. ” Interestingly, the patent examiner appears to have been unaware of Charles Kellogg’s earlier discovery, which likely would have precluded the granting of the patent for the general use of sound waves to suppress fires.

[0021] What is particularly notable is that Kellogg used a combination of high and low frequencies (due to his use of bird whistles and the long-bow excitation of a tuning fork), while Tran and Robertson primarily employed low-frequency sound. After experimenting with high-frequency sound, they observed some effect on the fire, though they concluded that low-frequency sound was more effective.

[0022] Another noteworthy contender for fire suppression is hypersonic sound, pioneered by Elwood (Woody) Norris. The physics of hypersonic sound involves ultrasonic waves, typically above the range of human hearing (greater than 20 kHz). These ultrasonic waves are modulated to produce audible sound when they interact nonlinearly with the air, causing the air to vibrate and generate sound waves at lower frequencies. By precisely modulating and directing the ul- trasonic waves, this technology creates focused audio beams. The process relies on ultrasonics, wave interference, and the nonlinear behavior of air. The key elements include (1) the highly directional nature of ultrasonic frequencies due to their short wavelengths, and (2) the interaction of amplitude, phase, or frequency-modulated ultrasonic waves with the nonlinear atmosphere to produce a beat frequency signal at audio frequencies, audible only along the narrow path of the ultrasonic beam. One of Norris’s many patents in this field is titled “Resonant Tuned Ultrasonic Electrostatic Emitter, ” filed on January 13, 1998.

[0023] A hypersonic sound device known as the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) is a directed-energy sound cannon and an acoustic hailing de- vice, used for long-range communication and crowd control, among other dual-use military applications. LRADs are widely employed by law enforcement, military, maritime security, and other organizations to broadcast loud, clear audio messages over extended distances. Key features of LRADs include:• Directional Sound Projection: LRADs are designed to project sound in a specific direction, allowing operators to target a particular area or audiencewithout broadcasting the message indiscriminately.• Long Range: As the name suggests, LRADs are capable of projecting sound over long distances, reaching one thousand meters or more. This makes them useful for communicating with individuals or crowds at a distance.• Clear Communication: LRADs are capable of delivering intelligible and clear messages even in noisy environments. The focused and directional nature of the sound projection helps in reducing interference.• Variable Frequency and Volume: Operators can adjust the frequency and volume of the sound emitted by the LRAD, allowing for flexibility in commu- nication and ensuring that the message is audible without causing excessive discomfort.• Non-lethal Deterrent: While LRADs are primarily used for communication, the loud and potentially disorienting nature of the sound they produce can serve as a non-lethal, and possibly a lethal, sound deterrent. In certain situations, the use of an LRAD may discourage individuals from approaching a secured area.

[0024] Hypersonic sound relies on the nonlinear absorption of sound energy in air, particularly above approximately 80 dB. Furthermore, above about 20 kHz, the attenuation of sound becomes a nonlinear function of frequency. For example, a 100 kHz ultrasonic frequency experiences around 800 dB of atmospheric absorption per 100 feet (30 meters). As the energy from an LRAD spreads along the path of the ultrasonic beam, it originates from billions of emitter planes, ensuring that only individuals within the beam can hear the audio.

[0025] When the narrow-beam ultrasonic signal s(t) is amplitude modulated with an audible signal, the ultrasonic wave interacts with the nonlinear atmosphere, producing acoustic mixing products. This interaction causes the down-converted audible signal to be generated at each ’’sheet” of intense ultrasonic energy along the beam, which can then be heard by the human ear. Other modulation tech- niques, such as frequency and phase modulation, may also be employed, either independently or in combination.

[0026] Thus, in principle, by modulating the appropriate acoustic signal from a narrow-beam ultrasonic transducer, it is theoretically possible to suppress fires from a distance without using water or chemical fire suppressants. However, the LRAD system loses significant energy along the propagation path, and that energy would be better utilized for extinguishing fires. As a result, while LRAD may be possible, it is not anticipated to be efficient and practical enough for combating extreme wildfire events (EWEs) over large distances. Also, the lower frequencies would require substantially larger LRAD devices than are currently available.

[0027] Therefore, new techniques and embodiments are needed to ensure ef- ficient, remote, and low-resource-use fire suppression.ACOUSTIC WAVES EXTINGUISH FIRES

[0028] This section is critical background about how acoustic shockwaves and sound-waves are highly effective tools for extinguishing fires due to their ability to disrupt the combustion process through multiple physical mechanisms.

[0029] When a shockwave propagates through the air, it creates rapid pres- sure fluctuations, intense turbulence, and rarefaction zones that collectively sup- press flames. The primary effect of a shockwave is the disruption of the flame structure, which separates the fuel and oxygen required for combustion. Addition- ally, the rarefaction zones that follow shockwaves temporarily reduce the oxygen concentration and lower the temperature in the fire zone, further inhibiting com- bustion. Repeated shockwaves amplify these effects by sustaining turbulence and preventing re-ignition.

[0030] Historically, chemical explosives have been used to generate single shockwaves for fire suppression, such as in oil-well fires, but recent advancements enable the generation of precisely controlled, electronically produced shockwave systems. These systems offer enhanced precision, scalability, and sustainability in firefighting applications, providing a modern and efficient solution for managing fires across various scenarios. The electronics that can produce these shocks may be based on light, sound, and other physical processes, even exotic effects such as ionized radiation and others may be used.

[0031] In order of importance the following effects extinguish a fire by acous- tic processes.

[0032] 1. Shock Wave Disruption: The electronically generated shock waves act as the primary mechanism for extinguishing the fire. By deploying many precisely directed shock waves each second, built up from thousands to millions of tiny individual shockwaves, the system creates a coordinated disruption of the flame structure, effectively separating fuel and oxidizer, and scattering hot combustion gases. This approach enhances the physical interruption of combustion far beyond the capability of a single (historical) chemical explosive shock wave, enabling more targeted and sustained fire suppression.

[0033] 2. Ember Management: In high-wind conditions like Santa Ana winds, electronically generated shock waves neutralize and contain embers within a fire zone. Precisely timed shock waves create localized zones that disrupt em- bers, fragmenting and cooling them through adiabatic expansion and turbulent mixing. Overlapping shockwave patterns suppress ember updrafts and limit wind- driven spread by forming pressure barriers. Dynamic feedback systems with Al and atmospheric sensing adapt shockwave intensity and direction to wind changes, ensuring embers are controlled without exacerbating fire spread. This precision containment minimizes ember dispersal, enhancing fire control even under extreme conditions. Containment may need to be maintained for several minutes to neu- tralize the ember threat.

[0034] 3. Sequential Suppression and Control: Unlike chemical ex- plosives, electronically generated shock waves can be precisely timed and directed to focus suppression efforts on specific areas of the fire. This allows for sustained control, targeted application, and adaptability, which are not achievable with tra- ditional explosive methods. This can be further enhanced with advanced artificial intelligence (Al) electronic warfare techniques directed against the fire.

[0035] 4- Rarefaction- Induced Oxygen Depletion: Each shock wave is followed by a rarefaction wave, which lowers the local air pressure and density. This creates temporary oxygen-deficient zones that prevent the fire from sustaining combustion. In the electronically generated system, the cumulative rarefaction effect from multiple shock waves amplifies this mechanism over a broader area compared to a single explosive event.

[0036] 5. Cooling via Rarefaction: The rarefaction wave significantly reduces the temperature in the fire zone through adiabatic expansion. Even moresimplistically the ideal gas law shows how lower pressure can can cause lower tem- perature PV = nRT. While the opposite (heating) is also true during the high pressure segment of a wave where a shockwave can form and disrupt the fire by other means. Thus, both the compressive and refractive components can disrupt a fire. With hundreds to millions of electronically generated shock waves per sec- ond, the cooling effect becomes highly distributed and more uniform, ensuring the suppression of hotspots that could reignite a fire. This mechanism synergies with oxygen depletion to enhance fire suppression.

[0037] 6. Turbulent Mixing and Dilution: The turbulence created by the repeated electronic shock waves disperses the flame, mixes hot combustion gases with cooler ambient air, and dilutes fuel and oxygen concentrations. Unlike a single explosive shock wave, the repeated application of periodic and aperiodic shock waves ensures sustained turbulence, preventing re-ignition and achieving better control over the fire.

[0038] 7. Physical Displacement of Fuel: For certain fires, the repeated shock waves can physically displace or scatter the fuel source, particularly if the fuel is loose, particulate, or liquid. This is less prominent than the direct disruption of combustion but can contribute to extinguishing fires where the fuel can be removed or isolated from the flame. Moreover, intense shockwaves can pulverize materials and expose hidden parts of a fire for further disruption.

[0039] 8. Repeated Pressure Oscillations: In the electronically gen- erated system, overlapping shock waves and rarefaction zones can create complex pressure oscillations that repeatedly disrupt the flame front. These oscillations ex- tend the suppression effect beyond the duration of a single shock wave, ensuring more effective quenching of the fire.

[0040] 9. Ionization and Electromagnetic Effects: The electronically generated shock waves may interact with the electromagnetic environment to in- fluence flame chemistry, especially in high-temperature plasmas created during the process. While not the primary suppression mechanism, these effects could con- tribute to localized disruption of combustion processes.

[0041] 10. Low-Intensity Acoustic Waves: The use of low-intensity acoustic waves, without the formation of shockwaves, can also extinguish fires by resonating with the flame and disrupting the combustion process. Even travelingsound waves can create oscillations in the air to interfere with the flame’s supply of oxygen and destabilize the flame front. While this method may require precise tun- ing of the acoustic frequency and intensity, it has been demonstrated to effectively suppress small flames, particularly under controlled conditions.

[0042] 11. Oxygen Depletion from Chemical Consumption (Prior Art): For traditional chemical explosives, the combustion of the explosive mate- rial consumes oxygen in the immediate vicinity, contributing to fire suppression. However, this mechanism may be absent in the electronically generated shock wave system, which typically achieves suppression without chemical reactions or oxygen depletion from combustion.

[0043] It is critical to appreciate that low intensity acoustic waves can be combined to form high-intensity focused sound waves that can subsequently exhibit localized shockwaves, and place the shock where it is needed (at the acoustic focus) without energy loss in propagation. Thus, in electronically controlled fire fighting it is often an objective to generate low-intensity acoustic waves as part of a shockwave formation process, i.e. for the sake of power efficiency.

[0044] Thus, electronic (and photonic etc...) generated shock wave disruption is a significant and versatile mechanism, enabling precision, control, and scalability of fire suppression far beyond what chemical explosives can achieve. Rarefaction- induced oxygen depletion and cooling are enhanced with repeated shock waves, and ember management, achieving a broader and more sustained suppression effect. Turbulent mixing and pressure oscillations are magnified by the system’s ability to generate numerous, overlapping shock waves. Fuel displacement and electromag- netic effects play situational but secondary roles. The chemical oxygen depletion of explosives is noted only as prior art and is not applicable to the electronic sys- tem. While low-intensity acoustic waves alone are less effective for large fires, they can be focused to create localized shockwaves, providing an energy-efficient and targeted approach to fire suppression.

[0045] Additionally, something more is going on with fire suppression using just low-intensity sound, as it clearly can put out a fire, as many experiments have shown. This can occur without a resonant container to cause standing waves. A simple speaker can extinguish a small fire with a modest 100 Hz tone. Or better yet, a broad band of sound noise emitted from the speaker, again around 100 Hz to1000 Hz can even more efficiently put out a small fire. An noted Charles Kellogg showed this around 1926 (roughly) with song and large tuning folks. Then again fire suppression by sound was demonstrated by Seth Roberson and Viet Tran in 2015 from George Mason University. The experiment has been repeated many times by others. Also, there are interesting experiments shown wherein a speaker puts out a fire and the air flow out of the speaker is measured with an anemometer. Then a fan is used to try to put out the same fire by providing the same or greater air velocity and the fire does not go out. It appears that there is something intrinsic about the sound, even at low intensity, that puts out the fire. Also, at least for small fires, I have measured that directed sound from a speaker that is only l%-10% of the power output of the flam can put out the flame. So there is something more going on here in the suppression of fire by sound, beyond just airflow or shockwaves. The historical and modern experiments I reference highlight intriguing physical phenomena that are not yet fully understood at the time of the writing of this disclosure. Nonetheless, here’s an attempt to synthesize the evidence and propose possible mechanisms:

[0046] 1. Flame Oscillations and Quenching: Sound waves induce oscillations in the flame that disrupt the steady combustion process. These oscil- lations could (1) displace the flame base to interrupt the connection between fuel and oxidizer, and (2) stretch the flame increasing the heat loss from the flame to its surroundings, effectively cooling it below the ignition temperature.

[0047] 2. Enhanced Heat Loss via Convection: Acoustic waves can enhance localized convective heat transfer away from the flame without significantly increasing bulk airflow. This effect could explain why air-flow form a sound source, like a speaker, works better than a fan at the same air velocity.

[0048] 3. Pressure Modulation at the Flame Front: Sound waves create periodic pressure variations in the air, which may provide at least one of (1) altering the flame’s chemistry by modulating reaction rates and (2) interfering with the diffusion of fuel and oxygen into the combustion zone.

[0049] Broadband Noise and Flame Instabilities: Broadband noise could destabilize the flame by interacting with multiple flame instabilities, leading to suppression across a wide range of flame behaviors.

[0050] Interaction with Chemical Reactions: Low-intensity sound maydirectly influence the combustion process at a molecular level by at least one of (1) modulating diffusion rates of reactants and (2) localizing turbulence that alters the flame’s shape and reaction zone.

[0051] There is clearly “something more” happening when low-intensity sound extinguishes fires. The observed suppression effects likely involve complex inter- actions between acoustic waves, heat transfer, and combustion chemistry, beyond simple airflow or shockwave mechanisms. Thus acoustic firefighting is an untapped mechanism that warrants further development as provided in this disclosure, espe- cially for applications in fire control and energy-efficient firefighting.

[0052] That said, it is clear that both high-intensity and low-intensity acous- tic phenomena exist that are capable of extinguishing a fire and this can be ex- ploited. However, the ability to use sound to extinguish fires is undermined by several practical issues. First, the size and weight of a physical speaker are too great for practical transport. Second, speakers are devices that are not capable of focusing acoustic energy as this requires large phased arrays. Thus, the energy of a speaker is dispersed so that even larger power sources are needed to achieve the desired outcome. Third, large speaker can catch on fire. Fourth, speaker size and power do not scale well with the size of a fire, and this lack of simple scaling undermines practical implementation. Fifth, a large speaker can only be used for one application. However, what is needed is both economies of scale and scope so that other applications can lower the cost of hardware and make the devices more financially accessible, which indirectly helps put out large scale fires because the hardware is readily available for use.

[0053] These shortcomings are addressed in this patent disclosure by means of directed energy technologies that provide a new way to deliver the acoustic en- ergy to extinguish a fire, for example by means of light. This takes a technology that was developed as early as 1913 (chemical explosives used in fire suppression) and low-level sound as early as about 1926, and reimagines its delivery and control to extinguish fires from a great distance and at the speed of light to reduce or eliminate the need for water, chemical suppressants, ground assets, and air assets to fight wildfires.EXPERIMENTAL DEMONSTRATION

[0054] On 2024 January 28, the author of this patent disclosure (Leo DiDo- menico) conducted what is likely the first known demonstration of a flame extin- guished by a light source. As shown in Fig. 4, a sequence of four images illustrates a candle flame being extinguished via a pulsed light source.

[0055] The images, presented in inverse black and white for clarity, are sepa- rated by 10 ms intervals. A single pulse from a Q-switched Neodymium YAG laser was used, emitting infrared light at a wavelength of 1064 nm, roughly focused at the center of the flame. Operating at the edge of its capabilities for this application, the laser was underpowered, and not all pulses successfully extinguished the flame, though many did. Each pulse delivered 2 J of energy over a duration of 3.5 ns. It is estimated that 10 to 15 infrared photons were required for a Multi-Photon Ionization (MPI) process that generated a shockwave capable of extinguishing the flame.

[0056] The observed growth in flame size is likely due to the expanding gases from the detonation of the atmosphere and fuel. In the 20 ms frame, three distinct components are visible above the candle: (1) the still-burning, upward-moving wick segment, separated from the candle by the detonation; (2) the hot gases of the original flame, rapidly moving away from the candle; and (3) a spray of liquid fuel droplets, likely heated and ejected from the wick or from the pool of liquid wax below the flame.

[0057] This process is inherently complex, involving phenomena such as laser- induced plasmas, convective gas flows, radiative transfer, shock waves, fluid me- chanics, phase transformations, and possibly other interactions yet to be identified. Despite the experiment’s small scale and relative inefficiency, it marks a significant paradigm shift in firefighting technology. Instead of relying on water, manual la- bor, or traditional mechanical tools, this experiment demonstrates the potential of energy (e.g. light) and eventually information (e.g. from fire location to artificial intelligence strategy) as primary agents for fire suppression. These are the elements of an electronic warfare system directed at wildfires and potentially other kinds of fires. For example, the use of lasers for shaping of combustion and detonation products in rocket engines among other applications.

[0058] This patent disclosure builds on these humble early-stage findings,detailing methods for extinguishing fires using directed light energy. The light can be focused within the flame, as demonstrated here, or used to induce atmospheric detonations outside the flame to create shockwaves or acoustic effects that suppress combustion. These methods lay the groundwork for a new era in firefighting (and other applications), where precision and advanced energy systems replace tradi- tional techniques.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0059] This disclosure presents the principles and embodiments of a photopy- rokinetic fire suppression system designed to address wildfires and other fire sce- narios. The system enables remote and rapid fire suppression at electronic speeds by utilizing directed energy signals, such as structured light pulse trains, precisely configured in space and time. These signals create targeted regions of atmospheric electrical breakdown and gas detonation within or around the fire to extinguishing it.

[0060] The series of atmospheric detonations produces plasma and pulse trains that generate intense acoustic energy, which is focused on the fire. This energy disrupts the fire through multiple mechanisms, including cooling, disrupt- ing airflow to the combustion zone, and altering the chemical reactions that sustain combustion. Additionally, the system may induce nonlinear atmospheric interac- tions, shock waves, and hypersonic sound waves to further suppress the fire.

[0061] By leveraging these advanced mechanisms, the system achieves effi- cient, remote fire suppression, even at significant distances, offering a transforma- tive approach to combating wildfires and other challenging fire scenarios.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The foregoing discussion is only an introduction and other objects, features, aspects, advantages and applications will become apparent from the fol- lowing detailed description and drawings of physical principles given by way of illustration. Note that figures are often drawn for improved clarity of the un- derlying physical principles, are not necessarily drawn to scale, and have certain idealizations introduced to show the essence of the method and embodiments to make descriptions clear. Also note that drawings of embodiments have referencedesignations to point to specific features, while theoretical images that are used to develop mathematical principles may have descriptions and mathematical variables printed directly thereon, to assist in clarity of presentation. Finally, some black and white dot images are provided to document historically important background.FIG. 1 shows a 1926 news paper summary stating that putting out fires with sound is possible, as demonstrated by Charles Kellogg of California USA. This image was taken from an online Microfiche or Microfilm source taken from the news paper archives.FIG. 2 shows an image of naturalist Charles Kellogg, the father of using continuous low-intensity sound as a means to extinguish fire, circa 1926.FIG. 3 shows a record disk of sounds used by Charles Kellogg to extinguish fires. Note the accompanying label, circa 1926.FIG. 4 shows demonstration of photopyrokenesis by means of a sequence of four photos of a candle flame being extinguished using laser light. The image is shown in inverse black and white for clarity.FIG. 5 shows a stand of trees engulfed in a forest fire to show different regions of fire dynamics.FIG. 6 shows a cross section of an intense light beam detonating air to produce an acoustic wave over time.FIG. 7 shows a cross section of three example plasma structures that are used to construct more complex plasma structures to create acoustic sources in the atmosphere.FIG. 8 shows a cross section of several atmospheric detonations for a first time-step in a light-induced space-time acoustic array.FIG. 9 shows a cross section of several atmospheric detonations for a second time- step in a light-induced space-time acoustic array.FIG. 10 shows a cross section of several atmospheric detonations for a third time- step in a light-induced space-time acoustic array.FIG. 11 shows a cross section of several atmospheric detonations for a fourth time- step in a light-induced space-time acoustic array.FIG. 12 shows a cross section of a atmospheric detonation zone, comprising input electromagnetic radiation, avalanche breakdown of the atmosphere, and the generation of a focused beam of acoustic energy.FIG. 13 shows a plurality of accelerating directed energy beams that bend in the atmosphere so that a remote source of structured light can target a fire some large distance away that is also on the ground to avoid the need for airborne firefighting equipment such as manned aircraft and drones.FIG. 14 shows a rectangular cross-section structured light beam that can can bend through free-space without the need for refraction or reflection or any other interaction with matter for the curved trajectory.FIG. 15 shows magnitude and phase of the source excitation for a light held that can bend light without interacting with matter for refraction, reflection and other optical phenomena.FIG. 16 shows a plane wave with a discontinuity of 7r radians in phase, which creates a false wavefront artifact in the r direction even though propagation is in the ^-direction.FIG. 17 shows a Toroidal-Poloidal-Radial coordinate system used in developing a curved light beam solution to Maxwell’s equations.FIG. 18 shows a light beam moving around a nearly circular orbit and an associ- ated constant wavefront in the form of a spiral helicoid. In practice, only a portion of this beam is used to bridge from the source to the wildfire.FIG. 19 shows a light beam moving around a circular orbit and an associated constant wavefront in the form of a twisting sheet around the beam core. In practice, only a portion of this beam is used to bridge from the source to the wildfire.FIG. 20 shows a single section of a multi-plane mode converter used in controlling electromagnetic Helds to ionize the atmosphere.FIG. 21 shows in perspective a multi-plane mode converter that converts one ver- sion of beamed energy into another by means of multiple phase screens.FIG. 22 shows a perspective schematic of a colloid with ellipsoidal nanoparticles, which is surrounded by a near field phased array antenna that is used tomanipulate the nanoparticles by dielectrophoretic forces and torques in a stress-liquid to allow nanoparticle migration only after a threshold force or torque is reached to change the optical phase shift provided by the colloid only in one phase-screen pixel.FIG. 23 Shows components of colloid refractive index tensor as a function of the aspect ratio of particle aspect ratio. The figure assumes silicone oil called PDMS, as the host liquid.FIG. 24 Typical bulk refractive index of the materials used to make a nanoparticle colloid for a phase screen based on a multi-plane mode converter .FIG. 25 Specific Attenuation in units of dB / km. Attenuation cross electromag- netic spectrum, at sea level under various weather conditions for radiation that is propagating parallel to the Earth. Rain at 4 mm / h, fog at 100 m visibility, STD (Standard atmosphere) 7.5 g / m3water vapor, and 2 x STD (Humid conditions) at 15 g / m3water vapor.FIG. 26 Shows the elements of a wildfire suppression system based on photopy- rokinetics.THE WRITTEN DESCRIPTIONBACKGROUND

[0063] Large-scale forest fires, such as the one depicted in Fig. 5, can reach heights of over 100 meters, especially in forests with towering trees like redwoods. A ground fire 5a typically generates a radiated heat intensity of approximately 100 kW / m2within the combustion zone, with temperatures around 900°C (1,652°F). In contrast, a canopy fire 5b can access more oxygen, leading to a significantly higher radiated heat of up to 500 kW / m2at l,400°C (2,552°F).

[0064] For a firefighting method to be effective, it must penetrate deep into the fire and disrupt its physical processes at temperatures exceeding l,500°C, where radiant emittance surpasses 500 kW / m2. Additionally, the method must function independently of wind speeds, which can escalate to hurricane levels in mountainous areas or as the fire draws in oxygen from its surroundings. It should also remain un- affected by debris in the air, such as water mist, ash, embers, and dust. Moreover, firefighting personnel should be located far from the fire or eliminated altogether with an automated fire suppression system that attacks the fire at electronic speeds.LIGHT-INDUCED ATMOSPHERIC DETONATION

[0065] In this disclosure, a powerful, focused, and efficient Directed En- ergy (DE) light beam is introduced as a novel method for extinguishing fires. This system employs a groundbreaking technique termed photopyrokinesis [Pho- toPyroKinesis (PPK)], which refers to the control or suppression of fire through the use of light. Derived from the Greek roots photo (light), pyro (fire), and kinesis (movement or control), the term encapsulates the concept of using electromagnetic energy, in the form of light, to influence, manipulate, and / or extinguish fire.

[0066] Photopyrokinesis leverages directed light energy from high power la- sers, millimeter-wave tubes, and other sources to generate structured light beams that interact with the atmosphere, inducing phenomena such as acoustic shock- waves and nonlinear effects. These interactions disrupt the combustion process by denying airflow, interfering with chemical reactions, or directly suppressing the fire. This innovative approach marks a significant advancement in fire suppres- sion, harnessing the transformative power of light to control one of nature’s mostdestructive forces.

[0067] Other applications may use the same photopyrokinesis for enhancing fires by sculpting the region around the fire to more effectively control combustion and detonations.

[0068] To ensure linguistic clarity: photopyrokinesis is a noun; photopyroki- netic is its adjective form; photopyrokinesize is the verb; and photopyrokinesizing is its present participle / adjective form. These derivatives allow for precise descrip- tions of actions, characteristics, or processes, and may be used interchangeably with the acronym PPK, depending on context. Standing alone, PPK refers to photopyrokinesis as described.

[0069] Expanding the concept, photopyrokinesis (manipulating fire with light as the primary energy source) contrasts with acoustopyrokinesis (manipu- lating fire with sound as the primary energy source). This disclosure advances pho- topyrokinesis, i.e. beyond acoustopyrokinesis which is the purely acoustic methods of prior art. Here we incorporate light and electromagnetic Helds into fire suppres- sion. This progression from acoustopyrokinesis to photopyrokinesis represents the evolution of fire suppression technologies using DE methods.

[0070] For the avoidance of doubt, photopyrokinesis removes the need for a material acoustic transducer, like a speaker or chemical explosives, to produce sound directly in prior art disclosures, and replaces it with one or more light sources.

[0071] Furthermore, this disclosure defines photoaerokinesis [PhotoAero- Kinesis (PAK)] as the broader science of manipulating the atmosphere with light for applications that may be outside of firefighting. More generally still, aeroki- nesis encompasses atmospheric manipulation using arbitrary energy forms and kinds, such as but not limited to: sound, ionizing radiation, photonic quantum entanglement, and classical electromagnetic fields.

[0072] Focusing specifically on fires, PPK alters the fire’s environment from a remote location, generating acoustic energy near the fire through spatially and tem- porally shaped electromagnetic (EM) fields. These fields are typically designed to move though the atmosphere and fire with minimal attenuation, delivering en- ergy precisely to where it is needed to extinguish the fire efficiently and as safely as possible. The shaped EM energy is focused into one or more specific space-time re- gions, inducing electrical breakdown and producing controlled electrical discharges.This produces a kind of opto-electronically formed lighting and thunder.

[0073] This process need not rely on simple Gaussian beams but can employ a superposition of structured light modes, including but not limited to boomerang beams, vortex beams (similar to smoke rings but for EM Helds) and orthogonal Laguerre-Gaussian modes from multiple remote sources, as well as others developed in this disclsoure. These modes can form any desired spatial configuration via superposition. For example, structured boomerang light beams enable intense light to traverse curved trajectories from one ground-based location to a remote region, thereby eliminating the need for aerial assets, such as aircraft, in fire suppression.

[0074] There are four possible mechanisms for the electromagneti- cally induced breakdown of air that are considered here:

[0075] 1. MULTI-PHOTON IONIZATION (MPI): Light in the ul- traviolet, visible, and near-infrared ranges can enable MPI, liberating electrons and forming an expanding plasma. This process generates a detonation shockwave with overpressure, disrupting the fire’s environment. MPI is most efficient when photon energies are high enough to interact directly with atmospheric atoms and molecules. Herein, MPI means one or more photons.

[0076] 2. ELECTRON TUNNELING: When photon energy is insuffi- cient for MPI, intense electromagnetic fields can induce electron tunneling. In this quantum process, bound electrons tunnel to become free electrons. While elec- tron tunneling relies exclusively on the internal workings of atmospheric atoms and molecules, it requires extremely high electromagnetic field intensities and may be less efficient than multi-photon absorption.

[0077] The distinction between MPI and tunneling is described in the rigor- ous Keldysh Theory where the full quantum theory is developed. See for example, Ionization in the field of a strong electromagnetic wave, Keldysh, L. V., Sov. Phys. JETP-Ussr 20, 1307-1314 (1965) AND Tunnel and multiphoton ionization of atoms and ions in a strong laser field, Popov, V. S., (Keldysh Theory). Phys. -Usp. 47, 855-885 (2004). A pivotal outcome of these works is the Keldysh parameter 7, which is developed to distinguish when ionization conditions favor MPI or tunnel- ing.

[0078] 3. RELATIVISTIC RUNAWAY ELECTRON AVALANCHE (RREA): At lower photon energies, such as those in the microwave range, freeelectrons in the atmosphere can be accelerated to relativistic speeds (greater than 10% of the speed of light) by intense electric Helds. These high-energy electrons ionize additional atoms in collisions, initiating a cascade of free electrons. This process, known as RREA, results in an exponential increase in electron density and can sustain energies between 1-10 MeV in strong fields.

[0079] RREA leverages preexisting atmospheric free electrons from natural sources like cosmic rays, ultraviolet radiation, and even fire-generated ionization. The resulting air breakdown mimics an electrical discharge, similar to lightning, creating a conductive plasma that supports shockwave generation. The energy gained in RREA exceeds collision losses, allowing continuous acceleration until the electric field diminishes in space or time.

[0080] 4. SATURATED ELECTRON AVALANCHE (SEA): SEA operates similarly to RREA, but differs in that electron velocities remain non- relativistic. Energy gain is balanced by collision losses, preventing a runaway ef- fect. While less energetic, SEA still produces sufficient free electrons for plasma formation and electrical discharge. See Table 1 for comparison of SEA and RREA.

[0081] An important consideration is the Free Electron Density in Com- bustion Environments. Under standard atmospheric conditions, free electron density is low, ranging from 102to 104electrons / cm3. In combustion zones, such as wildfires, electron density increases dramatically, reaching IO10to 1014electrons / cm3, depending on fuel type, flame temperature, and additives. Fires create localized plasmas, with gas densities reduced by 30%-50% due to thermal expansion, providing favorable conditions for RREA. Note that fire plasmas are substantially neutral with positive ion cores and negative electrons. However, the electrons are low mass and can be separated from the ions cores with sufficient electric fields.

[0082] In the RREA process for fire suppression, electrons gain sufficient energy from the electric field to accelerate far beyond the speed of the slower- moving positive ions, creating localized charge imbalances. These imbalances generate strong Coulomb forces that drive rapid recombination, releasing energy and causing adiabatic expansion. The resulting temperature can exceed three to five times the temperature at the surface of the sun, producing shockwaves capable of disrupting the combustion process. As the plasma temperature is so muchTable 1: Comparison of SEA and RREA ProcessesCharacteristic SEA RREAElectron Speeds Non-relativistic (low energies) Relativistic (high energies)Electric Field High but below RREA thresholds Extremely high (kV / mm)Energy Gain vs. Loss Balanced by collision losses Energy gain exceeds lossesPrimary Mechanism Electron impact ionization Runaway acceleration ofCollision Frequency High (short mean free path (MFP) Low (longer MFP )Other Phenomena Electrical breakdown, plasma forms Plasma, gamma-ray flashesTypical Occurrence Laser-induced plasmas, discharges Intense Thunderstorms greater than typical wildfires, therefore a fire typically has no negative impact on the formation of a plasma for PPK fire suppression.

[0083] Focused electromagnetic pulses at frequencies, for example, between 100 Hz and 1000 Hz can repetitively induce RREA, generating acoustic shockwaves that deny the fire airflow and other critical conditions for sustained burning. These pulses operate effectively within the elevated temperatures of wildfires, converting light energy into acoustic energy capable of extinguishing the fire.

[0084] KEY POINTS OF PHOTOPYROKINESIS:1. Mechanism: PPK leverages shaped electromagnetic Helds to induce at least one of MPI, electron-tunneling, RREA and SEA, depending on the wave- length, field intensity, and atmospheric conditions.2. Efficiency: The natural ionization within a fire lowers the threshold electric field required for breakdown, enabling efficient initiation of the suppression process, especially for SEA and RREA. This fire ionization is only a second order effect for MPI, though mixed processes like SEA and MPI are possible.3. Outcome: Repeated light pulses generate space-time acoustic arrays in the atmosphere that focus intense acoustic waves to form shockwave waves at the fire, pulverizing burning fuel (e.g. wood) and disrupting the fire environment (e.g. air flow) and extinguishing combustion. The plasma space-time acoustic arrays launch linear sound waves, but as the sound waves focus the density of the air can become so high that sound waves move faster forming abrupt shock wave edges. In extreme cases this can also ionize the air. Light inducedshock waves can extinguish fires, just like dynamite-formed shockwaves can extinguish fires.

[0085] Below is a commonly used model that relates the electric held thresh- old, Bthreshoid, to the gas density, ngas, in terms of the density at standard tem- perature and pressure («o), which is approximately 2.7 x 1019molecules per cubic centimeter it also includes a reference free-charge-density that is in the range of 106to 108electrons per cubic meter at standard atmospheric conditions, which is based on the Saha Ionization Equationwhere kBis Boltzmann’s constant and the absolute temperature T effects the ion concentration so to first orderwhere nejo occurs at T = 7Q ~ 298 K, which is room temperature. Therefore we find that the dielectric breakdown strength of air at standard conditions is approximately Eo= 3 kV / mm. This is valid for RREA and SEA. In this way we can account for the electric held threshold at different atmospheric conditions. Therefore, we can express the electric held threshold for RREA as a function of the reduced air density, taking into account the lower density in the hre-affected region. Note that in a hre, gas density is about 30% to 50% of the atmospheric density and we hnd that Ethreshoid is roughly 1 kV / mm. When there are convective winds the pressure can be even lower and Ethreshoid might even be as low as roughly 0.5 kV / mm.

[0086] For MPI there is a different equivalent Eth- In what follows, a very approximate derivation is provided. Rigorous results requires the solution of a time-dependent quantum mechanics problem, which is more technical rigor than is necessary here to demonstrate the essence of the underlying physics.In particular, the ionization energy of the atmosphere is the molar fraction weighted sum of the ionization energy of the constituent atmospheric gases and we hnd the average ionization energy as £,on= 12.1 eV and slightly higher perhaps in humid conditions where the water vapor has an ionization energy of about 12.6 eV. Therefore, the number of photons needed to ionize the atmosphere is given in termsof the ceiling function aswhere 8ph is the photon energy. Therefore, the power P of the electromagentic held that is delivered to the molecule that is undergoing ionization is P = N8ph / At, where 8ph is a photon’s energy, N is the number of photons, and At is the capture time of the molecule where the photons are “simultaneously” captured by the molecule to liberate an electron.

[0087] Thus, the quantity At defines the idea of what it means for N photons to be simultaneously captured by the molecule being ionized. However, by the quantum uncertainty principle At AT ~ h / 2. So, taking AT ~ 8ionwe getwhere I have now ignored the ceiling function for large enough N with in an ap- proximate analysis.

[0088] Next, the intensity of the light beam (Watts / per unit area) is S = P / AA = P / (TT Ar2) where Ar is the photon’s spatial uncertainty (e.g., beam spot size on molecule) and its overlap with the molecule. However, by the uncertainty principle the radius is uncertain so that Ar Ap ~ h / 2 where Ap is the uncertainty in momentum transfer to the molecule during the interaction with the photon.

[0089] However, momentum is Ap = hk = h / A, so that on combining the expression of S, P, and Ar we get

[0090] Next, we note that the threshold electric held intensity Eth is also given through S = E2he0c / 2, so on equating the two expressions of S we find thatWhile this equation was derived for a single molecule it is easy to see that the average is a wighted sum over the constituents of the atmosphere, comprising about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon, and then an addition of water from humidity, which is wether dependent. Nitrogen has an ionization energy of about 15.6 eV, oxygen has an ionization energy of about 12.1 eV, argon has an ionization energy of about 15.8 eV, and water vapor has an ionization energy of about 12.6 eV. Theaverage (dry) ionization energy is then about 12.1 eV, but efficient ionization of all the different molecules would take about 15.8 eV. So it takes about 13 photons having a 1 micron wavelength to fully ionize air molecules. So Eq. 7 holds on average as well.

[0091] At elevated temperatures T relaive to a baseline at say To= 300 K then very approximately we heuristically expect to first order thatand at 1 micron wavelength and an ionization energy of 12.1 eV we have about 8 kV / mm as the atmospheric ionization field strength threshold, which is within the range of roughly 1 kV / mm to 10 kV / mm reported in literature.FOCUSED DIRECTED ENERGY:

[0092] This section introduces the concept of synthesized spatial gain in the context of photopyrokinetic fire suppression systems. In conventional electromag- netic (EM) systems, where the antenna aperture is on the order of the wavelength or slightly larger, the term ’’gain” refers to the angular concentration of electro- magnetic radiation into a specific solid angle, rather than allowing it to spread over the entire 4TF steradians. However, when the aperture is significantly larger than the wavelength — such as in the case of a lens or a large phased array — a more generalized concept of gain is required to account for focused energy rather than angular divergence alone.

[0093] Using Gaussian optics, the minimum focus region can be described by the radiusAfWO =(8) VVD where A is the free-space wavelength, f is the focal length, and D is the diameter of the circular aperture. At a significant distance from the source, the Poynting vector’s magnitude at the focal point is given bywhere P represents the power of the EM signal. To account for engineering flexi- bility, we define w = nwg, where n > 1 is a rescaling factor for the minimum radius WQ. This givesBy substituting P = / 2)2S'O, where SQ is the intensity at the source aperture, and combining with the Gaussian optics expression for WQ, we derivewhereby the optical gain isIn addition to spatial gain, the system incorporates pulse compression gain, where the pulse duration is compressed from iq to T2without energy loss so that P2T2 and the pulse compression gain iswhere iq > r2. A typical value is Gp = 100. Combining these gains, the free-space power density can be expressed aswhere SQ = 377 ohms is the free-space impedance. Unlike conventionalmicrowave link equations, no distance-squared spreading loss is included because the beam comprises structured light (e.g., modified Bessel beams, vortex beams, or boomerang beams) that exhibit properties like diffraction resistance and self- healing.

[0094] Additionally, as can be seen in Fig. 25, there is an atmospheric loss associated with the beamed energy, typically specified in decibels per kilometer, so there is a linear loss of£ — lQ--C Am / 10(15) where f is typically the focal length in meters, fkmis the focal length converted to km units, and C, is the specific attention from Fig. 25 in units of dB / km. Therefore,S = S0GoGp W-C fkm / w. (16)Laser and mm- wave manufacturers often specify Si = GpSo, so the equation sim- plifies toIn terms of pulse energy £7 and duration r, where P = S^ / T, we obtainor equivalentlyHowever, the unit-less area rescaling factor a2. is to be chosen with engineering safety margins in mind so that the intensity S is greater than what is needed for atmospheric detonation. A typical value is perhaps 3x greater than needed for the onset of atmospheric detonation. This ideally still allows the focus area to be large enough so that the threshold electric held is achieved to induce plasma formation in the atmosphere by at least one of quantum tunneling, MPI, RREA, and SEA. Therefore,so that approximatelywhere Eth may range from about 1 kV / mm to 10 kV / mm for quantum tunneling, RREA, SEA, and MPA. The maximum detonation region area is to first orderwhere Amin is the minimum area required for atmospheric detonation. This detona- tion area serves as a resource for constructing a space-time acoustic array, enabling focused acoustic energy to create shockwaves at the fire location.

[0095] The area resource is the area AEET and it is only an approximation. So the idea is that we adjust the pulse energy £7, pulse duration r, focal length f , wavelength A, source diameter D, and area de-rating K2SO that we can ensure that Eqs. 21-22 are true.

[0096] Shockwaves form due to nonlinear propagation, where high-intensity sound waves increase local air pressure, accelerating compression regions faster than rarefaction regions. This leads to a shockwave that extinguishes the fire ef- ficiently, minimizing energy dissipation during propagation. Linear sound waves transport energy efficiently to the focus region, where shockwaves form, makingfile photopyrokinetic process both targeted and energy-efficient.TWO PRIMARY LIGHT BANDS:

[0097] Infrared light can be generated easily using commercial off-the-shelf components and is not subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and similar international, regulations. While it penetrates smoke-filled environ- ments significantly better than visible light, it is less effective than millimeter- wave (mm-wave) light in penetrating rainy or smoke-filled regions. In contrast, mm-wave beams excel in traversing water-laden skies and bypassing atmospheric debris from fires, but their use is subject to FCC regulations. Moreover, mm-wave systems are typically larger, more complex, and more expensive than laser-based infrared systems. Consequently, an infrared system may be more practical for initial de- velopment due to its cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation with existing technology, even though it lacks the penetration capabilities of mm-wave systems for deeply embedded fires.BEAM FORMING:

[0098] A significant aspect of PPK technology involves the creation of struc- tured light beams designed to perform specialized functions. These include bend- ing along curved trajectories as accelerated beams for ground-to-ground firefighting, forming vortex Helds, or transforming an initial light beam into a focused beam at a designated Atmospheric Detonation Zone (ADZ). Within this ADZ, atmo- spheric ionization generates shaped ” lightning” that subsequently produces focused ’’thunder,” propagating as linear sound waves. These sound waves are then focused to create acoustic shock waves (non-linear waves) near or within the fire. The re- sulting shock waves disrupt the fire through multiple mechanisms, as previously described. Pulses, potentially from different remote sources, may also converge so the electrical fields add in the ADZ to produce an expanding plasma shockwave. Additionally, the ADZ may be outside or inside of a fire.

[0099] At mm-wave bands, beam forming is often done with modules that have phase and amplitude control. However, this can become cost prohibitive. In another approach, inspired by optical technologies, we can use the idea of mode matching with spatial light modulators or their equivalent. In particular, a multi-plane mode converter (MPMC) can be employed to match the desired complex output modes in space and time with input modes that are easy to produce.HIDDEN SPACES & EMBERS:

[0100] The ability to extinguish a fire often requires an ability to access hidden spaces where the fire exists. In trees this may be the inside of a hollowed out wooden structure. With sufficient energy it is possible to pulverize a tree to expose the inside where the fire is protected from external processes to extinguish it. This may result in substantial discharge of embers that, if not managed property, could start new fires even as the original fire is extinguished. To combat this possibility additional containment shockwaves can be deployed to provide forces that restrict embers from escaping into the external environment of the fire.

[0101] Additionally, the use of millimeter-wave technology, may allow many burning structures to be extinguished because of the ability of millimeter-wave light to pass through wood, rock and concrete. This allows firefighting to occur with- out disrupting and breaking apart the burning structures and liberating additional embers.MISCELLANEOUS:

[0102] Note that the light induced sound can be used as a “speaker” to communicate to people in the region that the fire suppression effort is about to commence and warn them to leave the area or take shelter in a suitable way. The light can paint instructions in the sky and the sound can provide audible instructions.

[0103] Also note that the atmospheric detonation can be used to start fires for controlled burns of the forest for woodland management and even to remotely create fire breaks. Other applications to power, protect, and propel also exist.REFERENCES:1. Light Bends Itself into an Arc, Zhigang Chen, Department of Physics and Astronomy, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA, April 16, 2012, Physics 5, 44, http: / / link.aps.Org / doi / 10.1103 / Physics.5.44Nondiffracting Accelerating Wave Packets of Maxwell’s Equations, Ido Kaminer, et. al. PRL 108, 163901 (2012), and having a Digital Object Identifier of https: / / doi.org / 10.1103 / PhysRevLett.108.163901 Optic large deflection cantilever beam ( OLDCB) method, Journal of Optoelec- tronics and Advanced Materials, Vol. 23, No. 11-12, November - December 2021, p. 538-542 Observation of resilient propagation and free-space skyrmions in toroidal electromagnetic pulses, ACS Photonics, Ren Wang, Pan-Yi Bao; Zhi-Qiang Hu; Shuai Shi, Bing-Zhong Wang, Nikolay I. Zheludev, Yijie Shen, Appl. Phys. Rev. 11, 031411 (2024); doi: 10.1063 / 5.0218207, 2 August 2024. High Efficiency Triple-Helix Solenoid Beam Generated by Dielectric Metasurface, Maryam Setareh, Robert De Gille, Jasper Cadusch, Dandan Wen, Se- jeong Kim, and Kenneth B. Crozier, ACS Photonics Letter, doi: 10.1021 / ac- sphotonics.4c00874. Observation of resilient propagation and free-space skyrmions in toroidal electromagnetic pulses, Ren Wang, Pan-Yi Bao, Zhi-Qiang Hu, Shuai Shi, Bing- Zhong Wang, Nikolay I. Zheludev, Yijie Shen, Appl. Phys. Rev. 11, 031411 (2024), doi: 10.1063 / 5.0218207 Optical atompilz: Propagation-invariant strongly longitudinally polarized toroidal pulses, Ren Wang, Ding-Tao Yang, Tao Xin; Shuai Shi, Bing-Zhong Wang, Yijie Shen, Appl. Phys. Lett. 125, 111101 (2024), doi: 10.1063 / 5.0218686 U.S. Patent No. 10,569,115, published on February 24, 2020, titled “Meth- ods and Systems for Disrupting Phenomena with Waves.” Interestingly, the patent examiner appears to have been unaware of Charles Kellogg’s earlier discovery. Ionization in the field of a strong electromagnetic wave, Keldysh, L. V., Sov. Phys. JETP-Ussr 20, 1307-1314 (1965). Tunnel and multiphoton ionization of atoms and ions in a strong laser field, Popov, V. S., (Keldysh Theory). Phys. -Usp. 47, 855-885 (2004)DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONPLASMA DETONATIONS:

[0104] Fig. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of an idealized light-induced det- onation zone 6a. The zone is created by input light 6b, shown schematically along with its focused representation bounded by the first and second light boundaries 6c and 6d. As the intense light propagates into the focus region, it interacts with atmospheric atoms and molecules, forming a plasma 6e through mechanisms such as Multi-Photon Ionization (MPI), Electron Tunneling, Relativistic Runaway Electron Avalanche (RREA), or Saturated Electron Avalanche (SEA).

[0105] This plasma emits broadband light 6f , creating what can be described as a synthesized “lightning.” The resulting detonation generates a shockwave, anal- ogous to “thunder,” comprising alternating acoustic low-pressure regions 6g and high-pressure regions 6h. The acoustic energy propagates outward from the ion- ization region, as indicated schematically by acoustic propagation arrows 6i.

[0106] The shape of the plasma 6e is determined by the structure of the input light 6b, which typically originates from a pulsed electromagnetic beam generated by a laser or high-power millimeter- wave source. Although Fig. 6 presents a two-dimensional cross-section, it should be noted that both the light and plasma distributions are inherently three-dimensional structures.

[0107] The intense plasma can generate either a shockwave or an impulsive sound wave. A single pulse of incident light produces a corresponding single pulse of acoustic energy. More precisely, a light-induced impulse in both space and time creates a matching impulse response in space and time. When multiple laser pulses are used, they result in a series of acoustic impulse responses that combine addi- tively, following the principles of convolution, as long as the system remains within the linear response range of the atmosphere. This linearity typically holds true at short distances from the plasma initiation point, making it a reliable approximation for the beam-forming process.

[0108] Fig. 7 illustrates cross-sectional views of typical idealized plasma shapes generated during the atmospheric ionization process. The simplest shape is a disk 7a, which can result from three-dimensional structures such as spheres, rods, or ellipsoids. Another common shape is a long, thin rectangle 7b, derived from three-dimensional rods or plates. Additionally, an annulus 7c represents thecross-section of a three-dimensional toroidal plasma. These shapes, and others, can be combined in various ways to form complex plasma structures in space and time. Such configurations allow for the creation of advanced geometries that can be used for beam-forming of acoustic energy.

[0109] Thus, a single structured light pulse can generate an acoustic plasma source in space and time within the atmosphere. The resulting acoustic energy propagates according to the wave equation:where r is the position vector, t represents time, v is the speed of sound in the homogeneous medium (such as air), ip denotes the scalar pressure or density vari- ations in the air, andis the source function describing the over-pressure or over-density responsible for inducing acoustic fluctuations in the atmosphere. This linear equation is particularly useful for modeling most acoustic interactions within the medium.

[0110] However, at the focus of acoustic energy, the density of air in com- pression can become very high, causing the wave velocity v to exceed the speed of sound typically observed in low-intensity acoustic interactions. Conversely, in regions of rarefaction, where the air density is reduced, the velocity of sound de- creases. This variation in wave velocity sets the stage for the transformation of a linear wave into a shock wave. In such cases, the wave velocity becomes a function of the pressure held,

[0111] While this may seem counterintuitive, it is important to recall that the speed of sound increases with the density of the medium. At high pressures and densities, the linear relationship between pressure and density — such as that described by the ideal gas law — no longer applies, leading to much more complex wave and shockwave behavior. Without going into the mathematics, the critical point is that the locally high-density regions within a wave cause those parts of the wave to propagate faster, while lower-density regions slow down. This differential propagation speed ultimately results in the formation of a shock wave edge. This is especially useful near the focus of acoustic wavefronts as it allows shockwaves to engage a fire just like the shockwaves of an explosive.

[0112] For linear acoustic waves formed by a single transient pulse, the pres- sure response, referred to as Green’s functions G (or impulse response), is deter-mined by the geometry of the plasma source. This can be expressed as:Here, r represents the spherical or cylindrical radius depending on the source geom- etry, and 6 is the Dirac delta function for continuous systems or the Kronecker delta function for discrete systems. For repeated detonations, such as those produced by a laser pulse train with a constant pulse repetition frequency, the response in phasor space becomes:In these cases, the source is assumed to be at the origin of the corresponding coordinate system. The formation of a space-time solution from such responses is achieved through convolution. For discrete plasma sources, this is given by:whereas for continuous distributions of plasma, the solution is:These equations illustrate the flexibility inherent in forming space-time acoustic arrays, enabling precise control over the resulting wave patterns. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this paradigm allows for extensive modifications and extensions to accommodate specific acoustic energy requirements for firefighting.

[0113] What makes this approach so unique is its departure from traditional methods. Unlike antennas or acoustic transducers, which are fixed in space and often constrained to planar or horn-like configurations (such as a conventional speaker), this method leverages the entire three-dimensional space to synthesize acoustic Helds over time. By using atmospheric detonations as sources, we can dynamically control the acoustic energy distribution in ways that were previously impossible. The key requirement is a four-dimensional space-time light field with sufficient intensity to generate arbitrary plasma distributions in space and time. Once achieved, this capability allows for precise manipulation of the atmosphere and, ultimately, control over a fire.

[0114] Fig. 8 illustrates how Eq. 26 can be applied in a simple cross-sectional example. Here, multiple light-induced atmospheric detonations generate a corre- sponding plurality of acoustic waves that combine in space. Both the light-induced plasma and the resulting acoustic waves are shown in the figure, despite the vastly different time scales involved. The plasma formation occurs on the order of nanosec- onds to femtoseconds, while the sound wave propagation operates on a microsecond to millisecond timescale.

[0115] What sets this approach apart is its ability to transcend the limitations of traditional systems. Unlike conventional antennas or acoustic transducers, which are fixed in space and constrained to specific configurations such as planar sources or horn-type designs (e.g., a typical speaker), this method utilizes the entire three- dimensional space to dynamically synthesize acoustic Helds over time.

[0116] The input light 8a (see right pointing arrow) ionizes the atmosphere, creating a detonation that results in a plasma ball 8b, which forms part of a linear array 8c. This process generates a local wavefront 8d of pressure, as well as the first extended wavefront 8e of pressure propagating across the synthesized array. At time t = 0, the initial laser pulse is introduced, and the corresponding acoustic wavefront appears at time t = At. The pressure wave at the leading edge is depicted in a schematic over-pressure plot 8f, which illustrates the ^-direction propagation.

[0117] Fig. 9 extends the process shown in Fig. 8 by incorporating another set of laser pulses and atmospheric detonations forming a second plasma array 9a. At this stage, the second extended wavefront 9b forms as a superposition of the original wave (previously at t = At) and the new wave, now both present at t = 2At. The second plasma array advances forward in the ^-direction, enhanc- ing the acoustic wavefront and contributing additional energy. The leading-edge pressure wave is represented schematically in a second over-pressure plot 9c, which shows increased overpressure compared to the initial pulse due to the convolution of signals in space and time.

[0118] Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 illustrate subsequent steps in synthesizing an intense acoustic wavefront. New time and space locations for the acoustic energy, formed by light-induced ionization of the atmosphere are depicted.

[0119] The intensity and timing of each atmospheric detonation need notremain uniform. Variations in the strength of each detonation enable amplitude and phase modulation within the array. For instance, tapering the amplitude from a high value at the array center to near zero at the edges can effectively control side-lobe energy leakage. Additionally, implementing a roughly parabolic phase adjustment across the laser pulses allows the acoustic wave to converge at a point- like region in space. At this focal region, nonlinear effects may dominate, which would then inducing the formation of a shock wave to extinguish a fire near the focus.

[0120] Fig. 12 illustrates a fire 12a that needs to be extinguished. The figure depicts multiple electromagnetic (EM) signals, labeled as EM signal-b 12b, EM signal-c 12c, and EM signal-d 12d. These signals schematically represent a plurality of input signals, potentially dozens, propagating toward the fire 12a.

[0121] A detonation zone 12e is created where the Helds combine with suf- ficient intensity to trigger avalanche breakdown. The timing of atmospheric det- onations follows the direction of the time arrows 12f and 12g. Individual sub- detonations 12h are schematically shown as starbursts distributed throughout the detonation zone 12e. These detonations generate an acoustic wave 12i, which propagates towards the fire 12a to extinguish it.

[0122] As shown in Figs. 8 through 12, these configurations are just two examples of the many possible arrangements that can achieve the desired outcome. These examples serve to illustrate the fundamental principles of the system and should not be construed as limiting the scope of potential configurations.

[0123] Fig. 13 shows a fire 13a that is being extinguished by a family of curved “accelerated” light beams 13b, which are made possible by recent exact solutions to Maxwell’s equations. For example, one particular curved light beam 13c has a curvature that matches to the distance of the fire 13a. All of the beams come from a structured light source 13d that coverts easy-to-create EM fields with hard-to-create structured light fields using advanced light control technologies. In the simplest case shown, the light beam moves down range 13e in a plane, however, different modes may have non-planar trajectories.POLAR CURVED LIGHT BEAMS:

[0124] Although curved Directed Energy (DE) light beams are not needed to extinguish a fire with light, they are helpful in extinguishing a fire remotely by providing a means to reach the fire without air assets, i.e. from a fire-engine or other ground-based fire defense position. This is important for speed and for overcoming adverse weather conditions like intense winds that often fan flams and suppress aircraft flying to fight fires. Therefore, let’s take a look at how such curved EM beams are possible without the need for any refraction, reflection, or any light-matter interactions once launched.

[0125] By way of example, let’s start with the scalar wave equation for a transverse electric (TE) held and let’s restrict the propagation trajectory in the rrz-plane. This is not a requirement and transverse magnetic (TM) modes are also possible. This TE example just happens to be slightly easier to analyze and is thus helpful to the reader. The wave equation for the TE mode requires that E = Ey(x, z, f), which is ^ / -polarized, and reduces towhich is a Helmholtz equation where k = w / c. Next, the equations can be converted into polar coordinates by setting x = r cosd and z = r sin d while also taking U(r, 0) = R(r) e1010, where a is a real number characterizing angular propagation. Taking these equations and plugging them into the Helmholtz equation in cartesian coordinates giveswhere R = R(r) and it has been assumed that de = 0 so that there is no change in beam profile as 0 increases. Later the assumption of de = 0 may be relaxed to allow focusing of the beam even as it progresses over a curved trajectory. For now note that Eq. 30 is a version of Bessel’s differential equation with solutions of Bessel functions of the first and second kind. However, Bessel functions of the second kind go to infinity at r = 0 and are not physically possible in this solution so that R(r) = Ja(kr), and thereforeNote that the Bessel functions Jaare well-defined for non-integer and even negative a as the Bessel function of the first kind is defined by the relationwhere T is the is the Gamma function, a generalization of the factorial function. For real, non-integer o. Ja(kr) is smooth and oscillatory, similar to the integer a case. Non-integer a are valid in free-space solutions of Maxwell’s equations without boundary constraints. The value of a can be determined by the initial conditions of the beam (e.g., spatial phase distribution) or imposed constraints like beam curvature. In principle, a can range over all real numbers in free-space. However, if the beam propagates around the circular trajectory then to avoid self-interference then a = m, which is an integer is reasonable.

[0126] It is also desired to convert back to cartesian coordinates because this will help with physical interpretation. The propagation of the beam (e.g., bending in a circular trajectory or non-diffracting behavior) is often more intuitively understood in Cartesian coordinates, where the spatial structure and trajectory can be visualized relative to a straight-line reference (e.g., z z-axis propagation). In practice, beam generation and manipulation typically occur in Cartesian setups (e.g., optical systems with x and z axes). Converting to Cartesian coordinates helps bridge the theoretical model with experimental implementations. This will be shown later in this disclosure with the development of a multi-plane mode converter to implement the curved-trajectory solutions developed herein.

[0127] Additionally, the transformation into Cartesian coordinates facilitates the separation of forward- and backward-propagating components in Fourier space, which is crucial for understanding the beam’s properties (e.g., half-Bessel structure and propagation behavior). Also, while the polar solution is well-suited for circu- lar symmetry, Cartesian coordinates make it easier to understand exactly how to generate the source Helds to excite the desired beam-bending modes.

[0128] The forward-propagating wave satisfies the boundary condition of a beam launched at z = 0 and moving into positive z-space. Transforming to Carte- sian coordinates and decomposing the beam into Fourier components will reveal that the wave in the z > 0 direction is only part of the total solution. The re- maining part (corresponding to kz< 0 is incompatible with the physical setup andcan be discarded, leaving the forward-only “half-Bessel” structure. The apparent symmetry in polar coordinates hides this underlying structure because polar so- lutions don’t directly differentiate between directions in Cartesian space. Think of launching a conventional laser beam along the z-axis. While mathematically, the full wave equation allows for propagation in both + z and —z directions, only the +z part aligns with the physical launch. The starting point in converting to cartesian coordinates is the polar solutionNow observe that a Bessel function can be represented as a Fourier integral over angular coordinateswhere is the angular wavevector component in the rrz-plane as measured from the rr-axis towards the z-axis in a counter clockwise direction. Substituting this into the polar formNext, let (f)' = J> + 9, where 9 = taxT1(x / z)' is not a function of <J> and can be treated as a “constant.” ThenSince the integration is over a full 2TF range, we can shift the bounds back to 0 to +2TF without changing the value of the integral, thus 9 does not impact the integral, so 9 = 0, wherebyAlso, r cos cf)' = x cos <J>' + z sin <J>' so thatbut this can be broken intoand we see that the first integral is for the forward traveling waves launched at the z = 0 plane because the wave vectros areonly pointing into z > 0 for 0 < (f) < 7r. So to only include forward traveling waves we must only keep the first integral so thatwhere E+ (x, z) is the ^ / -polarized solution (TE Mode) of the electric held that is propagating into the z > 0 direction. The functionkz) is the Half Bessel Function. There is an angular extent of “bending” of the EM beam to a maximum °f &max = ?r / 2 radians as all the plane waves used to build up the solution are for when the wavevector is spread over angles 0 << 7r.

[0129] The parameter a determines the angular momentum of the beam, which influences the position of the maximum held strength along the radius. Therefore, the maximum held strength corresponds to the primary lobe of the Bessel functionwhere r = x at z = 0. For Ja(kr)., the position of the hrst maximum depends on a and occurs approximately at rmaxa / k when a is large. Therefore, on specifying a radius of curvature ro and the wavevector magnitude k = ‘2TV / X then we can pick a & kr0(42)

[0130] Let’s now talk about truncation of the EM helds. The helds as cur- rently developed extends inhnitely into the indirection. Also, the beams extend inhnitely into the r-direction. If we truncate the r and y directions we are left with a rectangle shaped beam in cross section. This will not be a problem in practice as often it will be possible to include thousands of oscillations of the Bessel function, which is decreasing in magnitude with increasing radius.

[0131] The Half Bessel Function should be a solution of the wave equation Eq. 29. This is worth checking,where the relation= 1 was used in the last line to confirm that the solution is an exact solution to Maxwell’s equations.

[0132] Note that if we scaled the solution so that we stretch the source aperture by saying that x — > ax and y — > ay and then we test the function (ax), kz), where z remains unsealed then we find on checking (just like in the above analysis) if it is a solution to the wave equation, we find that —a2+ 1 ^ 0 unless a = 1.

[0133] This means that it is not possible to scale the solution just in the source aperture plane, which might be desired to lower the intensity to make sys- tems safer near the source. For example to not injure birds and other animals near the source. So instead an approach that uses multiple lower-intensity curved beams (e.g. all based on the Bessel beam) that converge at the focus region, i.e. the atmospheric detonation zone, is a better way to synthesize the needed output for firefighting and other applications and keep source intensities low for the sake of safety. This approach also eliminates unintended atmospheric ionization where it is not desired.

[0134] Before going into the details of the implementation it will prove useful to connect the Half-Bessel Function to the conventional Bessel Function. Therefore, note thatHowever, it is interesting to note that as a ~ kro then droda / k. However, if we assume that a = 2m, an even integer, then the maximum change in the order of the Bessel function is \da\ = 1 and the resulting range change associated with moving a to an even integer is very small. For example for an infrared signal having a one micron wavelength dro ~ 1 p,m. Such a tiny movement in the range of the detonation zone is inconsequential, so we can make this assumption without concern. The reward for doing so is that J2m(—kr) =and we can write immediately from the above analysis that the Half Bessel Function is just half of the Bessel FunctionAlso, if a = (2m + 1), which is an odd integer, thenel(2"l+i)7r=> 1anc[we aisonote that80that again we find thatSo long as a is an integer we have the very convenient resultwhich is much easier to appreciate using a commonly available function and is true to its namesake as half the Bessel function.

[0135] Additionally, including a very modest parabolic phase taper to the beam in the y- and r-directions enables gradual focusing while preserving the orig- inal solution’s properties so long as the phase taper is small for long-range focusing. This approach essentially modifies the beam to introduce controlled wavefront cur- vature, allowing the control of another degree of freedom in shaping the beam properties and focus. This approach is provided here so that de ~ 0 is retained, otherwise a full solution with de 0 is required. For this disclosure the approximate approach is used to reduce the amount of mathematical required.

[0136] In particular, the original beam solution can be modified by multiply- ing it with a quadratic phase factorwhere 'ip(r, y) introduces the phase taperwhere fris the focal length for the r-directed aperture extent and fyis the focal length for the ^ / -directed aperture extent. The parabolic phase taper acts like a lens, creating a focusing effect. The curvature introduced in r and y allows the beam to converge toward a focal point, modifying its propagation without significantly altering its initial structure. These focus distances frand fyare along the curved trajectory and are therefore arc lengths. From Eq. 41 we have the next evolution of the solution for focusing over large distances to a fire, aswhere is the rounding to the nearest integer of a function, Ad is the angular interval over which the light travels from the source-plane, Jais the Bessel Function of the first kind, and the solution is valid approximately over the source aperture

[0137] In realistic setups, the beam is confined by an aperture or optical system, effectively truncating the Helds along y. This truncation creates a finite width, ,,,^- corresponding to the height of the rectangle in the beam’scross-section. Similarly, the beam is truncated radially to focus energy within a finite region, typically by limiting the aperture or introducing physical boundaries. Radial truncation to rmidefines the width of the rectangle in thecross-section and limits the beam’s propagation extent.

[0138] Note that other forms of structured light beams are possible and the Bessel-defined beam is only one kind and should not limit the discussion. Thus, it represents a physical example to help the reader appreciate that such solutions to Maxwell’s equations do in fact exist and can bend light beams without the need for interactions with the matter for refraction, reflection, or other phenomena that bend a beam. The beam is self sustaining.

[0139] Fig. 14 shows an idealization of a structured-light beam 14a of the prior mathematical discussion. The beam trajectory is 14b. The beam is launched from the launch plane 14c and travels through a physical angle 6. For the structured light beam discussed above this angle has maximum extent of 9max= 7F / 2 radians from the launch plane and terminates at the max-angle plane 14d. It should also be appreciated that in the space of wave vectors there are plane waves used to build up the structured-light beam that cover the range 0 TT toform the Half Bessel Function. This somewhat overlaps the same angular region as shown so that 0 TT and 0 < 0 < zr / 2.

[0140] A practical structured light beam has a finite aperture of extent: 6y in the ^ / -direction and 6x = 6r in the rr-direction. For example, let’s say that r = 1 km, A = 1 / im, and the launch aperture has an area of square profile with area of A = 6y 6x = 1 mm2. Then k = 2zr / A and a = kro & 6, 283, 185, 307, which was rounded to the nearest integer as a connivance as already discussed. As the Bessel function has asymptotic approximation that goes as cos(kr)' we can see that for 6r = 1 mm the mode comprises no more than about 1000 complete oscillationsof the electric held in the ^ / -direction for the TE modes under discussion in this example. An example of the EM excitation at the source plane across 5r at z = 0 is shown in Fig. 15.

[0141] Of course what is needed is a way to build a structured beam that is 1 m2to 10 m2or more, not 1 mm2. To increase the size of the beam many elementary solutions can be added together by the principle of superposition to give a slowly varying spatial function. This works because Bessel functions of different orders are orthogonal over the interval [0, R], i.e. because the orthogonality relationprovided k and R remain fixed. Moreover, a function f (r) defined on [0, R] can be expanded asand then inverted to give the coefficients Amby using the orthogonality relation, wherebyIf the domain is infinite, the orthogonality for different orders becomesThus, by exploiting the orthogonality of Jm(kr) and Jn(kr), it is possible to super- impose multiple modes of the same wavelength k to create tailored beam profilesThe great advantage here is that if the function f (r) can be written as this sum of Bessel functions then it is also an exact solution of Maxwell’s equations and it may be constructed with a slow varying envelope over the aperture of the electromag- netic source, which can be managed by finite resolution spatial light modulators. The above analysis and discussion provides for rectangular aperture solutions of TE modes that can be extended easily into TM modes.

[0142] At a deeper level the Bessel function is nothing more than a repre- sentation of a phased array excitation pattern!! The end of the pattern is highlyenergized and this magnitude, spacing, and phase, which alternates between 0 and 7F radians from element to element.

[0143] In Fig. 16 a plot of a segment of plane waves is shown leaving the source plane at z = 0. The plane waves are moving in the ^-direction. However, along the r-direction there is a Javariation. This carries a 7r radian phase shift every time the Bessel function goes from positive to negative along the transition line 16a. This is visible here in this plot. Notice that even though the propagation is in the ^-direction there is still a kind of phase front that has a normal in the r-direction due to the changing of the sign of the Bessel function. This is however not a propagating phase front, but rather an artifact.

[0144] It is important to appreciate what is going on here so that we can properly interpret the physics. In particular, the solution to the wave equation in Eq. 33 has phase$ = aO + Arg[ Jc^kr)] (61) so it is tempting to write that direction of propagation is ), 0, — \ (62) r / / where sq,ais the sign of the slope at the r / 1' zero of the Bessel function Jmand rq,aare the positions of the corresponding zeros. However, as in Fig. 16, the source of the r-component are the changing of the sign of the Bessel function and is not a propagating component of the wave. The correct wave direction is thereforewhere a = kr0, so that near the beam

[0145] This is very important so that we appreciate the difference between phase and Transition-Free Phase T, which does not account for the variations in the Bessel function, wherewhich carries the direction of propagation information. This idea will be used again in the development of a toroidally curved EM beam.

[0146] Finally, it is clear that other trajectories may be possible, for example the conic sections, not just circular, simply by changing the magnitude, spacing, and phase from element-to-element. Changing the shape of the source excitation can focus the beam. So there is a lot of flexibility in the structure of the beam, including simple circular beams.TOROIDAL CURVED LIGHT BEAMS:

[0147] The objective of this section is to expand on the prior section to solve the Helmholtz equation for a Transverse Electric (TE) wave within a Toroidal- Poloidal-Radial (TPR) coordinate system. This setup is pivotal for applications in directed energy beam steering, where precise control over the wave’s propaga- tion path is essential. The solution involves defining an appropriate coordinate system, expressing the Helmholtz equation in these coordinates, and employing the method of separation of variables to find a separable solution that satisfies the given boundary conditions. This section further demonstrates practicality as the new coordinate system may be better suited for large aperture beams for fire fighting.

[0148] In particular, the TPR coordinate system is defined by three coordi- nates: radial distance r, poloidal angle 6, and toroidal angle (f). The relationship between the Cartesian coordinates (x, y, z) and the TPR coordinates (r, 6, 0) is shown in Fig. 17, where the toroid 17a defines the coordinate point 17b so that where• ro is the major radius (distance from the symmetry axis to the center of the circular cross-section),• r is the radial distance from the center of the toroidal cross-section,• 6 is the poloidal angle (angle around the cross-section),(f) is the toroidal angle (angle around the symmetry axis),• og = ±1 determines the handedness (orientation) of the coordinate system.The line element ds in the TPR coordinate system quantifies the infinitesimal distance and is expressed asFrom the line element, we identify the scale factors (Lame coefficients) for each coordinateThese scale factors are essential for expressing differential operators, such as the Laplacian, in curvilinear coordinates. However, the Laplacian operator V2in an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system with scale factors hi, / z2, h3is given by:where Mi = r, u2= d, and u3= (f). On substituting the scale factors we obtainThis expression incorporates the orthogonality of TPR via the absence of cross terms in the metric, aligning with the provided line element.

[0149] Next, we can solve the Helmholtz equation in the context of a TE wave, andwhere U (r, 0, 0) is the scalar electric held and k is the wave number. Assuming a separable solution ansatz of the formwhere R(r) is the radial component, ©(d) is the poloidal component, and <h(<^) is the toroidal component. Substituting the separable solution into the Helmholtz equation, expanding the Laplacian into the TPR coordinates, and dividing through by to facilitate separation yieldsTo achieve separation of variables, each term must depend solely on its respective coordinate. This is accomplished by enforcing periodic boundary conditions on the angular components, leading to the quantization of mode numbers m and n. The periodic boundary condition in the toroidal angle (f) isThis condition implies that <h(<^) must be a periodic function with period 2TF and must be a solution to which iswhere n is an integer (n G Z) to satisfy periodicity. Similarly, the periodic boundary condition in the poloidal angle 6 isThis leads to the differential equation with the general solutionwhere m is an integer (m G Z) to ensure periodicity.

[0150] With the angular components determined, the Helmholtz equation reduces to an ordinary differential equation (ODE) for the radial component R(r). Substituting <hinto the separated equation, we obtainTo facilitate separation of variables, we assume that the dependence on r and d can be decoupled through approximations. Given the complexity introduced by the(ro + r cos 6) factor, we adopt the Slender Toroid Approximation, assuming that r XQ. This simplification allows us to approximateThis is particularly useful for directed energy applications where the beam may be 1 m to 10 m in diameter and the radius rp might be 100 m to 10,000 m. Under this approximation, the radial equation becomes:Takingand expanding the total wavenumber asand further defining the wavenumber perpendicular to the wave propagation tra- jectory asthen the solution is in terms of the Bessel function of the first and second kindand we can reject the Bessel function of the second kind as it has an un acceptable singularity at r = 0. Therefore,The general separable solution to the Helmholtz equation in TPR coordinates is given by a double summation over the poloidal mode number m and the toroidal mode number n:where m,n = 1, 2, 3, . . . are non-negative integers representing the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers, respectively, M is the maximum poloidal mode number considered, JVi and N2define the range of toroidal mode numbers contributing tothe solution, C„,.„ are complex coefficients determined by boundary conditions and beam shaping requirements, Jmis the Bessel function of the first kind of order m, and where orthogonality of the Bessel function, such as Eq. 59, can be used to explicitly determine the beam intensity profile.

[0151] Finally, note, that if we were to set n = 0 then Eq. 87 takes the same form as the previous solution of Eq. 31, but the interpretation is different due to the geometry of the beams being so different. In Eq. 31 the coordinate r is global and the geometry of the Bessel function intensity pattern is asymmetric and similar to that of a linear phased-array. In Eq. 87 the coordinate r is local to the beam and the geometry of the Bessel function intensity pattern is radially symmetric.

[0152] The phase is thenwhich carries more information than desired to determine the direction of propa- gation. So we again define the transition-free phase asand we can use the gradient operator in the TPR coordinate system to determine the direction of the light propagation asSo clearly there are different modes of light that can travel around the torus. Figs. 18-19 show both a constant transition-free wavefront and a circulating ray that is perpendicular to the wavefront. In particular, a poloidal helicoid wavefront 18a supports toroidal rays 18b substantially along the toroidal <f> direction. Also, a toroidal helicoid wavefront 19a supports poloidal rays 18b substantially around the poloidal 9 direction. There are an infinite number of possible modes that are supported and these are just two extreme cases tor the reader’s consideration.LIGHT BEAM SYNTHESIS:

[0153] It should be evident that achieving precise control of EM Helds in space and time is fundamental for creating the atmospheric effects necessary to extinguish fires and address a range of other critical applications — such as to power, protect, or propel. The ability to shape and direct arbitrary ’’blobs” of light in both space and time, along with precise polarization control, is a cornerstone of this effort.

[0154] However, the technological requirements for such control present ex- traordinary challenges. In the regimes of interest, we must address the following:1. Ultra-short EM pulses that demand bandwidths stretching into terahertz or optical frequencies, often requiring femtosecond-scale precision. This extends into the millimeter-wave domain as well.2. Extremely high-power EM pulses that push the limits of material damage thresholds, thermal management, and system stability.3. Highly complex structured light modes that go beyond simple Gaussian beams, including Bessel beams, vortex beams, and other advanced spatial modes, some of which have been demonstrated in this disclosure.4. Extremely large apertures, often on the scale of meters, to ensure sufficiently low power density at the source and high power density at the focus for the intended application.[1551 These requirements expose the severe limitations of today’s conven- tional phased array technologies, whether in optical, infrared, or microwave sys- tems. Current approaches lack the necessary scalability in size, bandwidth, and cost to meet these demands. For instance, it has historically been nearly inconceiv- able to deploy a 10-meter diameter source aperture capable of delivering 1-petawatt pulses with femtosecond durations using current technology.[1561 Furthermore, traditional phased array systems suffer from inherent trade-offs in beam-forming accuracy, speed, and computational complexity. These constraints become exponentially more severe as we attempt to scale systems for ultra-high power, wide spectral bandwidth, and arbitrary mode generation. Even state-of-the-art optical phased arrays struggle to generate the kind of structured light needed to induce atmospheric control, particularly over large distances or inhighly dynamic environments. Moreover the dollar costs for conventional phased array systems with phase, amplitude, and polarization control is substantial.

[0157] In many EM systems, the standard approach involves analyzing an array of EM radiators to determine the resulting held pattern. This is referred to as the forward or analysis problem. However, there are situations where the inverse scenario arises: given specific input and output EM Helds, the challenge is to determine a practical means of transforming the input into the desired output. This is known as the inverse or synthesis problem.

[0158] Consider, for example, an artihcial intelligence (Al)-powered elec- tronic warfare processor, designed using advanced deep learning algorithms, that maps the spatial and temporal extent of a hre. Such a system could propose a targeted acoustic held to extinguish the hre. For each localized patch of hre, at the precise projected time of engagement, the system would generate a corresponding intense designed “blob” of EM energy. This blob, a spatially and temporally con- strained collection of photons, is characterized by specihc properties such as, its duration, modal structure, linear photonic momentum, spin angular momentum, and orbital angular momentum, all of which contribute to its ability to “acceler- ate” and bend and focus along a curved trajectory towards the detonation zone to extinguish a hre.

[0159] To achieve this, what is required is a transducer at a remote source that is capable of converting easy-to-generate, high-power EM modes into the hard- to-generate structured light modes necessary for hrehghting operations. These structured light beams must propagate to a “combat zone,” a dehned space-time volume where energy is deployed to counter the hre. This combat zone is associated with many detailed parameters about the hre’s properties and the time-sequence of countermeasures devised by the Al system. In essence, light energy and information are to be combined and directed by an Al system (or other types of controllers) to combat the hre at electronic speeds.

[0160] Realizing this requires solving an inverse problem to determine the optimal conhguration of a light transducer. This solution must enable a seamless chain of energy and information transformations, ensuring that the structured EM Helds generated at the source translate into effective hre suppression measures in the hre zone. Such a capability would embody the convergence of Al-directedinformation, high-power EM energy, and precision engineering to combat fires with unparalleled speed, range, and efficiency.

[0161] What is required is a fundamentally new approach — a system that can spatially and temporally sculpt light with unprecedented precision and efficiency. Such a system must bridge the gap between the needs of structured light generation and the realities of ultra-high power and ultra-short pulse technology. This leads us to the use of a multi-plane mode converter (MPMC), as an innovative solution designed to address these constraints when paired with new forms of large area spatial light modulators.

[0162] The MPMC is capable of generating highly structured and control- lable light beams by leveraging a series of carefully designed optical transformations across multiple spatial planes. This approach provides the flexibility to create arbi- trary light distributions, control polarization states, and accommodate the extreme conditions of modern high-power systems. The following discussion will detail the design, operation, and advantages of the MPMC in enabling practical and scalable solutions to these otherwise insurmountable challenges.

[0163] Before providing a detailed discussion of how a MPMC works, it will prove helpful to appreciate one single segment of the MPLC as shown in Fig. 20. In particular, an EM mode converter segment 20a comprising a phase screen 20b with a plurality of phase shift pixels 20c of width 6x in the rr-direction and 6y in the ^ / -direction. The phase screen 20b has thickness 6z.

[0164] Additionally, the phase screen is situated between a mathematical input plane 20d located at z = Zi and a mathematical output plane 20e located at z = zo. The distance between the input plane at z = Zi and the input edge of the phase screen is Az — hz / 2. The distance between the output edge of the phase screen and the output plane is also Az — 8z / 2. It is usually the case that Az >> 6z and we can set 6z ~ 0 when added or subtractwed from Az to simplify analysis, though this is not necessary.

[0165] At the input plane 20d there is located the source EM wave 20f S, which has source wavefronts 20g. At the output plane 20e there is located the target EM wave 20h T, which has target wavefronts 20i. Waves may be arbitrarily complex and even include abrupt phase shits 20j.

[0166] The input EM wave, usually represented by its electric held intensity,has a first forward direction 20k. The output EM wave, usually represented by its electric held intensity, has a second forward direction 201. Comparisons of waves at a plane, such as the output plane at z = zo, are done with a forward moving wave and a backward moving wave having a backward propagation direction 20m. The details of how this is done are now discussed.

[0167] We begin analysis with a simple case of harmonic plane waves propa- gating in the ^-direction. If the forward traveling Source wave (an electric held) is represented as S = el kz Zand the forward traveling Target wave (and electric held), which is the output of a mode converter and represented as T = e'l kzZ, then we can see by inspection of the equations that they are the same.

[0168] A slightly more physics-based approach is to compare the source wave S with a backwards traveling target wave T*. This is easily done by multiplication of the complex helds so that | UV* |2= 1, which shows 100% comparison efficiency. This efficiency we will call mode-matching efficiency.

[0169] We can do this calculation over each differential chunk dx of a wave- front to compare source and target waves. Thus, the overlap between the source and target helds at a specific output plane z = zocan be evaluated by the integralFor example, if the target wave was instead T =el(k^x+kzz) then we find:where sinc(g) = sin(g) / g. If the electric helds had been normalized such that the source was L and the target was T = el (-kxX+kzd / L, then 77 represents theefficiency of the transformation and is bounded by For this example,the efficiency is given by:77 = sine )This demonstrates that the coupling efficiency can be poor when kx% 0, in which case We can therefore generalize this approach and write the couplingefficiency aswhere z = zois the output plane where we measure coupling efficiency and the light is assumed to move substantially along the z-direction.

[0170] For a discrete MPMC we can choose any plane we like and under mode-matched conditions the forward and backward waves will have good coupling efficiency. For example, we can rewrite this efficiency equation for one of many phase-screen between an input port and an output port as followswhere S(x, y, zo) is the source wave at the output plane z = zoa distance Az after the phase screen, which is at z = zp. Moreover, T(rr, i / , zo) is also a target wave at the output plane z = zo, which is a distance Az after the phase screen and S(x,y, Zi) is the source wave at the input plane z = Z{ a distance Az before the phase screen. Additionally, A = A(x,y, z) = e~2kAzis the atmospheric phase lag as the wave propagates a distance Az before and after the phase screen. The phase screen itself is G(x, y, zp) at the phase screen plane z = zp, which is sandwiched between the input plane z = z« and the output plane z = zo.

[0171] Physics: At each stage of a MPMC the forward propagating source wave and the backward propagating target waves must have a high coupling ef- ficiency 77 ~ 1 for good coupling from the input to the output EM modes. This is because Maxwell’s equations exhibit time-reversal symmetry, and if you run a process backwards it will replay backwards exactly. So when a source wave is well matched to a target wave there will be a smooth transitions from the input to the output and vice versa. In this way each stage of a MPMC, comprising just one phase screen, has its own coupling efficiency r / mand then for the entire system we have that 771 / 72 • • • W ~ 1 is the desired outcome of the entire MPMC beam line, where each stage transforms the source wave a little more towards the desired target wave output mode and it also transforms the target wave a little towards the source when the waves are run backwards through the system.

[0172] Next, observe thatwhere 8z is the thickness of the phase screen, Az is the thickness of the air region before or after the phase screens, nr,pis a reference refractive index, n(rr, y) is the ideal refractive index distribution (i.e. the desired solution) that is provided by the phase screen such as a spatial light modulator, and 5n(x, y, zp) is the error refractive index that is currently undermining 100% coupling efficiency in a transmission based phase screen. Note that the factoris the ideal phase factor to drive coupling efficiency to 100%. Therefore,where we anticipate that rf = r / + Ar / and r / is the best possible coupling efficiency possible for the given phase screen configuration with a specific number of phase planes with a specific resolution used in a MPMC. We can now expand this integral aswhereTherefore, on expanding Eq. 100 we getWhere Im is the imaginary part function so thatNext, let’s deploy an ansatz, which is an assumption about the form of an un- known function which is made in order to facilitate the solution of a mathe- matical problem and is tested after the solution is formed. However, recall thatH(x, y, Zp) = [AG{x, y, Zp)A\o so thatwhere C is an arbitrary real constant so we can choose dn = Co sin[0s- — 0T] ,that correc- tions at the phase screen plane z = zpare determined by a comparison of phases at the output plane z = zo. Notice that amplitude comparisons are never directly made. This can be rewritten in terms of phase by observing that the phase screen has a well defined thickness dz so that 6(f) = dn k dz so that we can again leverage the arbitrary nature of CQ and writewhere Ci is chosen to ensure convergence of an iterative process for mode matching source S to target T electric held modes. Moreover we have thatThe scaling constant Co governs the size of the updates to dn. If Co is chosen appro- priately, the system will avoid overshooting and oscillations, ensuring stability in the iterative optimization process. Small, controlled updates help the optimization scheme converge to a solution without introducing instability. Of course we can chose Co to be any constant that is convenient so that we can for example writeor in terms of the spatial average over the (x, y) plane we have the important intermediate results:A0(x, y, zo) = es(x, y, zo) - eT(x, y, zo) = Arg [S(x, y, zo) T*(x, y, zo)] (112)Equation 110 says that as the average phase difference between source and target EM modes decreases towards zero the coupling efficiency y' approaches the ideal coupling efficiency y at the plane z = zo.

[0173] Then Eq. Ill says that at each point of the output plane of the phase screen device at z =which has thicknesswe can find the phase update from the source and target waves at the plane z = zoby taking take their phase difference to provide an update at plane z =from point-to-point (x, y, Zp). Another way of saying this is that we are comparing the forward propagating source EM held S and the backward propagating target EM held T* at the output plane z = zo.

[0174] So these last three equations taken together provide an iterative syn- thesis method that evolves towards the ideal phase screen and will converge to a constant distribution of phase-only adjustments at the phase screen as a function of position (x, y, Zp). When the distributionzp) stops changing very much from iteration-to-iteration then the iterative process can stop. Take special note that the phase screen updates at z = zpare obtained from comparing the forward and backward propagating source and target waves at z = z„, which can be a sig- nificant distance Az away: zo= zv+ Az and that the input to the phase screen is even further away at Z{ = zv— Az. Each separate section of a MPMC has its own input plane, output plane, and phase screen plane. Phase screen have been shown to be transmission mode here, but they could just as easily be reflection mode where micro mirrors change position to given different phase shifts on the phase screen. In reflection mode the beam can bounce back and forth instead of being a long linear beam line.

[0175] Therefore, a MPMC uses a plurality of phase screens to provide loss- less transformation from source EM modes to target EM modes. The more phase screens that are used the greater the number of degrees of freedom to accomplish the mode conversion. In the limit of an infinite number of planes we have a vol-ume where the phase corrections are applied. The above mentioned calculations are done and then applied to the MPMC to take a simple EM source and make it available to bend and focus into a beam to disrupt a fire, or any other application of Directed Energy. Here are the steps in more detail:

[0176] Step-1 : Define the input port and the output port and subdivide the space between into sections of length 2Az and at the center of each section place a thin physical phase screen with thickness 6z. This can be as simple as commercial spatial light modulator (SLM) or a more sophisticated SLMs such as one based on Optometaphoresis (OMP), which can be meters in diameter. Note that both transmission type and reflection type SLM can be used, however for reflection type SLM the planes of the SLM are not linearly arranged and the beam will typically reflect over a trajectory that is not on a straight line, but rather non-collinear line segments. While minor adjustments to the theory are needed for beams not perpendicular to the SLM the same essential results are still applicable with suitable adjustments to the atmospheric delay A, which would become a function of transverse coordinates (rr, j / ).

[0177] Step-2 : During the start of the computational synthesis initialize all the SLMs to have the same constant phase at every (x, y) location.

[0178] Step-3: Clearly define the input source Held S at the input port and the output target field T at the output port. These fields should be valid solutions to Maxwell’s equations. Initially, the source is typically an easy-to-generate field distribution and the target is a complex field of a structured light that is hard to generate by conventional means, such as a plurality of Bessel distributions, as already discussed. This will allow for some amazing properties to be included into the EM fields. Initially we shall discuss scalar EM fields that have the same linear polarization, however it is possible to have two beam lines that synthesize modes for different orthogonal polarizations so that on combining these two beam lines the resulting fields are also controlled in polarization. Additionally, we will assume that the source and target fields are pulses, while this means that we are not dealing with strictly harmonic fields, it is often quite fine to use these pulses as long as there are enough full oscillations involved that the pulse acts substantially like a harmonic signal. Typically 10 to 100 full oscillations are needed in a pulse so that the phase screens will interact properly. Thus, substantial space-time-polarizationcontrol is possible.

[0179] Step-4: Back propagate the target field T to the output plane of the first phase screen. This back propagation is through the intervening phase screens. Then compare it to the source field S at the same output plane using Eq. Ill and update the phase of the first phase screen point-to-point. Using this updated phase screen send the forward wave through the first phase screen and calculate the performance of the updated phase screen using Eq. 95 and keep track of this parameter over each evolution to see when the performance saturates, thereby indicating that further evolutions may not be needed. Using this new forward propagating source-wave proceed to the next phase screen and repeat the process. Keep doing this until at the last phase screen. Note that propagation through the phase screens is done using pixels with a certain resolution and diffraction effects may need to be included. There is some flexibility in this step, as it is also possible to simply calculate the updated phase screen and not modify the forward propagating fields until the next iteration of phase comparisons. This may impact convergence to a stable solution.

[0180] Step-5 : Recall that in the first pass we took the desired target field T and back propagated it to the first phase screen. Now, that the corrections have been made to the phase screens moving forward we again take the defining source S and target T fields, and pass the source fields through all of the phase screens and then compare to the target and make corrections to the phase screens, just as before, but in the reverse direction.

[0181] Step-6: Repeat the forward phase screen and backward phase screen corrections over and over until the output port mode conversion efficiency 77 & 1 and is not changing much from iteration-to-iteration. This will work because the math shows that on each pass a convergence toward the optimum conversion from input to output, limited by the resolution of the SLMs used.

[0182] Fig. 21 shows an example of a MPMC comprising a phase screen stack 21a having at least one phase screen 21b, which further has a plurality of phase pixels 21c. The input port 21d typically passes the energy of the EM radiation, but keeps out external materials and moisture. Similarly the output port 21e, which typically passes the energy of the EM radiation but keeps out external materials and moisture. EM modal specifications at the input and outputports define the EM transformation. It is possible to have more than one beam line for polarization control with the outputs combined — this is not shown in Fig. 21. Additionally, the MPMC typically has electrical signals that control the phase delays in each phase pixel 21c — again this is not shown here to reduce clutter. The purpose of the MPMC is to allows easy-to-generate EM signals to be transformed into hard-to-generate EM signals in a compact and cost effective way over typically large apertures. Note that while the emphasis here is on MPMC for EM signals, it is also possible to use a MPMC with acoustic signals to provide unique propagation properties.

[0183] The above discussion is only meant to provide one example of how to form the desired fields for the use of EM fields to detonate the atmosphere to extinguish a fire using directed and beamed energy. Other methods, such as phased arrays may also be used.PHASE SCREEN DESIGN:

[0184] A large-aperture structured-light source can be achieved with a plural- ity of stacked programmable phase screens based on Optometaphoresis (OMP). This approach uses a liquid metafilm comprising coin- or rod-shaped silicon or dia- mond nanoparticles (meta-atoms) approximately 25 nm in diameter, optimized for high refractive index and anisotropy across the infrared, and larger particle sizes are possible for millimeter-wave wavelengths. Such screens dynamically structure light to suppress wildfires through precise phase control in a MPMC, as already described.

[0185] Metasurfaces, thin layers of structured nanoparticles, manipulate light at sub-wavelength scales and are widely used for compact, multifunctional optical devices. However, their static nature, diffraction limitations, and small apertures (<1 cm) make them unsuitable for large-scale, high-power applications like wildfire suppression.

[0186] To overcome these limitations, metafilms extend metasurface princi- ples into a 3D anisotropic optical colloid. A colloid of high-refractive-index meta- atoms (~100 pm thick) suspended in a low refractive index (RI) yield-stress sili- cone liquid (e.g., enhanced PDMS) enables real-time programmability, broadband operation, and scalability to meter-sized apertures. By controlling meta-atom ori-entation with Near Field Phased Array (NFPA) antennas, OMP dynamically adjusts the optical phase of light passing through the metafilm.Hysteresis and Yield-Stress Properties for Pixelation: The inclusion of a yield-stress liquid introduces threshold behavior critical for pixelated phase control. Below a specific Held-induced torque, the meta-atoms remain stationary due to the fluid’s inherent yield stress, preventing inadvertent activation of pixels. This keeps the optical phase shift of a pixel constant. The hysteresis ensures that pixels are only activated when the combined electric fields from two orthogonal NFPA an- tennas exceed the threshold torque. The use of anisotropic nanoparticles enhances this mechanism, as their aspect ratio and high polarizability generate significant torques under sufficiently strong electric fields. This hysteresis-driven approach prevents pixel crosstalk, stabilizes nanoparticle orientation, and enables robust re- configurability.

[0187] The electric field-induced torque on each nanoparticle (TDEP) is pro- portional to the square of the local electric field magnitude (|B|2), as:where:• em: Permittivity of the medium,• V: Volume of the nanoparticle,• Ae: Dielectric mismatch between the particle and the medium,• |B|2: Time-averaged electric field strength, and• 6: Orientation angle of the nanoparticle relative to the applied field.For pixel activation, the combined field from the top and bottom NFPA wiresmust exceed a threshold to overcome the fluid’s yield stress (r^), wherewhere (f) is the phase difference between the signals applied to the top and bottom NFPA antennas.NFPA-Controlled Metafilms: The metafilm is sandwiched between two NFPA antenna arrays (see Fig. 22), which generate oscillating electric Helds to orient meta-atoms via dielectrophoresis. Each NFPA wire is energized with voltages VA, VB, etc., creating elliptically polarized internal fields that induce nanoparticle torques. By tuning these voltages, phase shifts in transmitted light are achieved with minimal nanoparticle rotation.

[0188] NFPA antennas also enable precise pixelated control of the metafilm for mode conversion from simple-to-generate EM modes to difficult-to-generate EM modes. This allows for bending and focusing of light beams. In one embodiment, NFPA antennas consist of parallel resistive wires embedded in transparent sub- strates, supporting both static charges and oscillating currents. This configuration ensures orthogonal electric fields, critical for nanoparticle alignment.Optical Properties of Metafilms: Metafilms leverage birefringence induced by anisotropic meta-atoms. The refractive indices for ordinary (no) and extraordinary (ne) axes depend on meta-atom shape and volume fraction (z / p). For uniaxial colloids:where and fe(rf) are nanoparticle shape-dependent factors, and r / is the meta- atom aspect ratio. Increasing z / p enhances birefringence (6n = ne— 710), allowing better light control with lower voltages. See Figs. 23-24.

[0189] For spherical particles (77 = 1), anisotropy vanishes, requiring higher voltages (~1000 V) for phase control via particle translation. Non-spherical shapes (e.g., coins, rods) achieve the same phase shifts with much lower voltages (~10 V), making them ideal for OMP.Applications Across Wavelengths: Meter-scale metafilms, programmable and adaptable, are ideal for high-power beam steering in extreme environments (e.g., space or wildfire suppression). The yield-stress liquid medium stabilizes nanopar- ticle orientation while supporting broadband transparency across multiple wave- length bands, including visible, infrared, and millimeter waves. Materials like sili- con and diamond offer high refractive indices and anisotropy, enabling precise phasecontrol over a wide range of electromagnetic frequencies. This versatility supports applications in directed energy systems, telecommunications, and adaptive optics.Embodiment: The dielectrophoresis-based phase screen integrates NFPA anten- nas and anisotropic metafilms, enabling programmable, large-aperture structured light sources for a variety of uses. By combining broadband operation, scalability, and dynamic reconfigurability, this approach represents a transformative advance in directed energy systems. The following provides detailed references to the ele- ments depicted in Fig. 22:

[0190] [ First NFPA Antenna ( 22a): The first Near Field Phased Array (NFPA) antenna is located above the metafilm layer. It comprises a series of resistive wire antenna elements, which generate elliptically polarized electric Helds in the colloid that induce nanoparticle torques within the metafilm. These torques align the meta-atoms in specific orientations, enabling precise optical phase control.[1911 Second NFPA Antenna (22b): The second NFPA antenna, positioned below the metafilm and orthogonal to the first NFPA, operates independently from the first. Its distinct excitation frequencies contribute to creating a two-degree-of- freedom (2-DOF) phase control system. The combined operation of the first and second NFPA antennas ensures precise manipulation of external light’s phase and polarization. Note that the First and Second NFPA antennas are orthogonal to allow a pixel to be selected by means of selecting specific wires to carry signals.

[0192] Colloid Metafilm (22c): Sandwiched between the two NFPA anten- nas, the metafilm comprises a colloid of anisotropic meta-atoms suspended in a transparent, low-refractive-index liquid. This layer enables broadband light con- trol through a combination of birefringence and nanoparticle orientation.

[0193] Wire Antenna Elements (22d, 22e) : Each NFPA antenna consists of multiple parallel resistive wire elements. These wires are harmonically energized at both ends, Vc, Vp) to generate oscillating electric fields within the metafilm. These fields are responsible for nanoparticle alignment via dielectrophoresis.

[0194] To control the resistive wire antenna elements (22d and 22e), voltages are applied at both ends of each wire. For the first NFPA antenna, the voltagesare defined as:where and VBare magnitudes, and ip A and ipBare phase angles. Thecorresponding time-domain expressions are:The voltage across the wire is (va— (— ty)) sincct, generating a current of [(fffl+ vb) / R] sin ait through the wire, where R is the wire’s resistance. Importantly, the average voltage on the wire and the current through it are in phase quadrature, producing orthogonal electric Helds (E\\ and E±P) within the colloid.

[0195] The important points include: (1) when both sides of a resistive wire oscillate at the same amplitude, frequency and phase, then the wire is charged harmonically and this causes electric fields that are perpendicular to the wires. (2) when both sides of a resistive wire oscillate at the same amplitude, frequency and 7F radians of relative phase, then the resistive wire carries a current harmon- ically and this causes electric fields that are parallel to the wire. With a relative phase between the parallel and perpendicular electric fields of TF / 2 we have phase- quadrature electric fields to drive elliptical polarization of the radio-frequency light in the metafilm. This induced light excites torques on nanoparticles. The torques have the property that they come with a built-in steady-state nanoparticle orien- tation where torques go to zero to set the steady-state optical (or millimeter wave) pixel phase shift. (3) Only when the rr-directed and the ^ / -directed NFPA antenna wires cross to select a phase-screen pixel is the optical phase shift selected for that pixel, because only then is the field strength for dielectrophoresis sufficient to over- come the yield-stress properties of the liquid host medium of the colloid forming the metafilm. Thus, we have a programmable, large-area, high-power, environmentally robust, phase screen that can be stacked to form a MPMC.FIRE INDUCED DOPPLER BROADENING:

[0196] Wildfire detection can be based on Doppler broadening of an EM signal, which occurs because the thermal motion of light scattering particles (atomsor molecules) causes a spread in the observed frequencies of emitted light. The Doppler effect relates the observed frequency v to the velocity v of the emitting particle along the observer’s line of sightwhere VQ is the rest-frame frequency of the emitted light, v is the particle velocity along the line of sight, and c is the speed of light. For thermal motion, the velocities v follow the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. The probability density function P(y ) for the velocity of a particle along one direction iswhere• m is the mass of the particle,• kBis the Boltzmann constant (1.3806 x 1023J / K),• T is the absolute temperature of the gas (in kelvin).The velocity v corresponds to a frequency shift Azz = v — Z / Q, related byThe frequency distribution P(y) is derived from P(r> ) using the relationship P(v)dv =P(y)dv, whereSubstituting ReplacingSimplifyingThis describes a Gaussian distribution for the frequency shifts caused by theDoppler effect.

[0197] The width of the Gaussian at half its maximum value is the Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM), Az / p. For a Gaussian function of the formthe FWHM is given byFrom the frequency distribution, the coefficient B isSubstituting B into the FWHM formulaSimplify

[0198] Next, let’s calculate the molecular mass m for the atmosphere in a wildfire. The atmosphere near a wildfire is composed primarily of nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), water vapor (H2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2). The average molec- ular mass of dry air is approximately Mair= 28.97 g / mol, based on the relative abundances of its major componentsMail= (0.78 ■ 28.01) + (0.21 ■ 32.00) + (0.0093 ■ 39.95) = 28.97g / mol. (133)For wildfire conditions, we approximate Majras representative of the molecular mass, accounting for minor contributions from combustion products such as water vapor and carbon dioxide. To convert Majrto the mass per molecule m, we divide by Avogadro’s number NA = 6.022 x 1023mob1This value is used as m in the Doppler broadening formula for the atmosphere in a wildfire. The Doppler broadening of light from a fire at a specific maximum temperature T is therefore,where• Z / Q is the central frequency of the emitted light,• T is the temperature of the fire,• m = 4.81 x 1026kg is the average molecular mass of air,• kB= 1.3806 x 10-23J / K,• c = 2.998 x 108m / s.The Doppler broadening Az / p derived in the formula represents the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the spectral line, which corresponds to the total broadening on both sides of the central frequency zy. The broadening is symmetric around zy. meaning that the line profile extends equally from zy — Azzp / 2 to zy + Azzp / 2. If only single-sided broadening is of interest, such as the shift from zy to one edge of the broadened line, it is given by Azzp / 2. This double-sided symmetry results in a Gaussian line shape centered at zy. which accurately reflects the thermal motion of the emitting particles.

[0199] Numerical examples for Doppler broadening of light for a 1000 °C fire illustrate the impact of temperature and wavelength on the spectral line width. For a fire at this temperature, corresponding to 1273 K, and assuming an average molecular mass of m = 4.81 x 1026kg for the atmospheric gases, the Doppler broadening for a 1 pm carrier wavelength (i / 0= 3 x 1014Hz) is approximately Az / p & 2.98 GHz. For a 1 mm carrier wavelength (Z / Q = 3 x 10nHz), the Doppler broadening is significantly smaller, approximately Az / p2.98 MHz. These values demonstrate how the Doppler broadening is directly proportional to the central frequency zy. with shorter wavelengths experiencing broader spectral lines. This sensitivity to wavelength emphasizes the importance of carefully selecting the car- rier band for applications in fire detection and assessment using entangled photons.ENTANGLED PHOTON FIRE DETECTION:

[0200] In a system utilizing frequency-entangled photons, the interaction of the probe photons with the fire environment results in observable statistical changes in the idler photons due to the preserved quantum correlations between the two. When the probe photons elastically scatter off the heated gases and particulates in the fire plume, the Doppler broadening experienced by the probe photons due to therandom thermal motion and bulk dynamics of the gas molecules is directly trans- ferred to the idler photons that remain in the fire detection processor. This occurs because the frequency entanglement ensures that any change in the probe photons’ frequency spectrum is reflected in the idler photons’ quantum statistics. Elastic scattering is critical to maintaining this correlation, as it avoids wavefunction col- lapse and preserves the entangled state. By using frequency entangled photons there is no physical return channel and hardware. For example, there is no need for a circulator to separate transmit and receive electronics. Also, all the losses in the return path go away, leading to a more sensitive fire detection.

[0201] The Doppler broadening observed in the idler photons correlates with the temperature and velocity distribution of the fire environment. This broadening is proportional to the square root of the temperature and inversely proportional to the square root of the molecular mass of the atmospheric components, as shown in the Doppler broadening formula derived earlier. By analyzing the broadened spectrum of the idler photons, detailed information about the fire, such as its intensity, the velocity distribution of the heated gases, and the turbulent dynamics within the fire plume, can be inferred without requiring the return path of the probe photons.

[0202] To maximize the dominance of elastic scattering while minimizing ab- sorption, the choice of wavelength is critical. The 1 mm millimeter-wave and 1 pm near-infrared bands are both effective for such applications, albeit with distinct ad- vantages and limitations. Millimeter waves (1 mm) experience very low absorption in the fire environment, including in the presence of water vapor and combustion byproducts such as CO2. Additionally, millimeter waves exhibit Mie scattering, which is elastic and ensures the preservation of the quantum correlations. They also penetrate dense smoke and aerosols effectively, making them highly suitable for large-scale wildfire detection where robust signal transmission through obstructed environments is critical. However, their longer wavelength limits spatial resolution compared to shorter wavelengths.

[0203] Near-infrared light (1 pm) offers higher spatial resolution due to its shorter wavelength and interacts strongly with smaller particles in the fire plume via Rayleigh scattering, which is also elastic. This allows for precise mapping of small- scale fire dynamics. However, near-infrared light is more susceptible to absorptionby water vapor and CO2, both of which are abundant in wildfire environments, and its penetration through smoke and aerosols is limited compared to millimeter waves. Careful wavelength selection within the near-infrared band can mitigate some of these absorption effects, but this requires detailed knowledge of the fire’s atmospheric composition.

[0204] In both bands, the preservation of elastic scattering ensures that the entangled state is maintained, allowing the Doppler broadening and other frequency-related phenomena experienced by the probe photons to be encoded into the idler photons. This transfer of spectral information through quantum cor- relations provides a powerful mechanism for non-invasive fire detection and assess- ment. Millimeter waves are particularly advantageous for large-scale wildfires due to their superior penetration capabilities and low absorption, while near-infrared light may be preferred for detailed spatial analysis in less obstructed environments. Together, these wavelength bands demonstrate the versatility of entangled photon systems in addressing the diverse challenges of wildfire monitoring and suppression.SYSTEM DESIGN:

[0205] The minimum light-based photopyrokinetic fire suppression system comprises: (1) a light source and (2) a light mode controller.

[0206] The light source must be intense enough to detonate the atmosphere at the focus region of the light. This light source can be in any electromagnetic band, but is typically in infrared or millimeter-wave bands. Infrared is easier to generated, but less capable at penetrating water and smoke than millimeter- waves. Moreover, millimeter-waves can even penetrate non-conducting solids like wood and concrete. Infrared is also more likely to allow multi-photon ionization, which may be easier to use to detonate the atmosphere, for generation of acoustic shockwaves, than a RREA or SEA process. The light source will also have many other characteristics that are of importance, including pulse energy, pulse repetition frequency, pulse width, polarization, wavelength, bandwidth, and initial modal structure. The light source also contains all of the things needed for the light source to work, such as a power supply, and mechanical supports, and safety systems. The light source may also provide the signals for fire detection, although at a much reduced intensity can can scan the environment continually without interference toother electronics or to biological life.

[0207] The mode controller can be as simple as static lens to focus the light at a fixed focal length, however it is more typically envisioned as adjustable to allow a variable focal length to adjust where the fire suppression occurs in space. More elaborate mode controllers convert simple modes, like plane waves, into accelerated light Helds that send light along trajectories that are similar to water from a fire hose. This allows ground assets to attack a fire from great distances, instead of needing air assets. This is critical in high-wind conditions where air assets may be grounded for safety reasons. Two approaches to a mode controller are phased arrays and MPMC. The MPMC has the advantage of typically being compatible with intense high-power pulses of EM energy.

[0208] A mode controller may also include a means to make decisions, such as using, but not limited to, an artificial intelligence. The decisions needed include the form of the atmospheric detonation to engage a particular fire configuration with acoustic shock waves for optimum fire suppression. This in turn requires specific EM fields to exist at a particular region of space and time, which further specifies the source EM energy to ensure the directed light energy can traverse a trajectory to the location of the fire. This requires dynamically changing mode conversions, perhaps via a MPMC, to create complex accelerated modes to reach the fire zone remotely. Operations may include fire suppression, ember containment, fire start- ing (to remotely create fire breaks), and even making remote audible and visual announcements in the atmosphere to warn people of impending fire suppression operations.

[0209] A mode controller may also include a sensing function to allow a feedback loop so that EM modes are constantly changing to match the dynamic and stochastic nature of a fire in a complex evolving environment. Moreover, the ability to quickly find a fire in a large area of trees is a critical function. This is because, wildfires that are found quickly, in under roughly five minutes from ignition, have a much better chance of being suppressed quickly and without substantial damage. It is clearly best if large area fires never come into being, even with an effective photopyrokinetic firefighting system larger fires will require more resources to suppress and that will cost a lot more money. Effective firefighting is best if it is fast so it is cost effective.

[0210] There are many potential sensor systems that can optionally be in- cluded into the mode controller. One particular sensor system is a quantum vi- brometer. An optical vibrometer can play a critical role in fire detection by utilizing the Doppler effect to analyze the motion of heated gases produced by a fire. The random thermal motion of gas molecules causes Doppler broadening of the reflected light spectrum, where the extent of broadening correlates directly with the temperature and velocity distribution of the gases. By measuring this broadening, the intensity of the fire can be determined, providing real-time data on its strength and behavior and distinguishing it from non-threats like a well-contained camp fire. Additionally, the rotational Doppler effect, particularly when measured using light with orbital angular momentum (0AM), can reveal details about the swirling or turbulent motion of fire-generated gases, further enhancing the system’s abil- ity to characterize a fire’s dynamics. Coupling optical millimeter wave vibrometry with Al-driven data analysis opens the possibility of detecting wildfires at an early stage by identifying the distinct vibrational and gas-flow signatures associated with combustion. This integration could enable rapid, automated wildfire detection and tracking, providing a powerful tool for fire management and prevention.

[0211] A quantum vibrometer represents a groundbreaking innovation in fire detection by leveraging entangled photons to examine the Earth’s surface at the quantum level. The system would work by sending probe photons to each “Earth pixel,” where their interaction with the environment determines whether a fire is present. As long as the molecules in the observed region do not absorb the photons — essentially avoiding wavefunction collapse — elastic scattering will occur. This scattering results in Doppler shifts corresponding to the motion of heated gases, and these shifts create measurable changes in the quantum statistics of the entangled idler photons that remain at the source. This mechanism enables fire detection without requiring a return path for the scattered photons, which is the critical advantage of using quantum entanglement. By eliminating the need for a full transceiver and the cumbersome isolation of circulators, the system reduces complexity and increases sensitivity, making it ideal for detecting low-level fire signals. Furthermore, the use of entanglement enhances signal fidelity, as any envi- ronmental interference affecting the probe photons would also affect the entangled idler photons, allowing for robust signal extraction. Such a quantum vibrometercould revolutionize fire monitoring, enabling highly sensitive, remote detection of wildfires without the traditional limitations of classical optical systems.

[0212] By combining low-power entangled probe photons with curved electro- magnetic (EM) light beams generated by a multiplayer mode converter (MPMC), a ground-based firefighting system could achieve the dual functionality of fire de- tection and suppression within a single, unified platform. The entangled photons would be deployed to scan the area for fire signatures, utilizing their quantum- enhanced sensitivity to detect Doppler shifts and other scattering phenomena as- sociated with heated gases. Upon confirming the presence of a fire, the same MPMC system could switch modes to generate high-power, curved EM beams optimized for firefighting. These beams, shaped and directed with precision by the MPMC, could induce localized atmospheric ionizations with an intense plasmas, and an as- sociated set of acoustic shockwaves that combine to suppress the fire by disrupting the combustion process. This integrated approach leverages the advanced capabil- ities of entangled photon sensing and structured light shaping, enabling a seamless transition between detection and action. Such a system not only simplifies the ar- chitecture by using a single MPMC unit for both tasks but also enhances efficiency and response time, making it an ideal solution for combating wildfires and other large-scale fire emergencies.

[0213] In one embodiment, the vibrometer operates as a form of ghost spec- trometer, leveraging quantum correlations to detect Doppler shifts and scattering phenomena associated with dynamic systems such as heated gases in fire detec- tion. As a transitional step toward a fully entanglement-based receiver, the system can employ a squeezed-light state receiver to enhance detection sensi- tivity. Squeezed light reduces quantum noise in specific observables, such as phase or amplitude, thereby enabling the detection of low-level fire signals with improved precision and reliability. This approach provides a practical and robust solution while high-flux entangled photon sources remain under development. The squeezed- light configuration allows for enhanced performance in detecting the subtle Doppler broadening caused by thermal and translational motion in heated gases, laying the groundwork for the eventual adoption of entangled photon receivers. Once high-flux entangled photon sources become widely available, the vibrometer can transition to a fully entangled-photon-based detection architecture, eliminating the need for areturn path entirely and enabling even greater sensitivity and scalability in remote sensing applications. This evolutionary design pathway ensures that the vibrometer remains at the cutting edge of quantum sensing technologies while accommodating current practical limitations.

[0214] The fully quantum entanglement-based receiver for the vibrometer leverages advanced properties of entangled photon states to detect and analyze Doppler shifts and scattering phenomena with unparalleled sensitivity. Central to this implementation are NOON states, which are quantum superpositions of N photons in one mode and zero photons in another. These states, represented in bra-ket notation asexhibit maximal quantum interference and phase sensitivity. This makes them par- ticularly valuable for measuring the small phase shifts caused by Doppler broaden- ing or elastic scattering in heated gases, enabling precise detection of fire-related gas dynamics.

[0215] In addition to NOON states, other forms of entangled states provide unique advantages depending on the sensing requirements. GHZ states, expressed asare suitable for multipartite entanglement scenarios where multiple spatial or spec- tral modes are analyzed simultaneously. EPR states, or Bell pairs, represented asenable robust two-mode entanglement, which can be exploited for direct correlation- based measurements between the probe and idler photons. Squeezed entangled states, which combine squeezing with entanglement, offer a balance between noise resilience and measurement precision. These states are particularly effective in noisy environments such as atmospheric fire detection, where decoherence and losses are significant concerns.

[0216] The entanglement receiver also benefits from exploring different types of entanglement tailored to specific applications. Frequency entanglement, for example, correlates the frequencies of entangled photons, enabling precise spec- tral measurements that are particularly relevant for analyzing Doppler broadeningcaused by thermal motion in heated gases. Energy-time entanglement, on the other hand, uses temporal correlations between photons to enhance sensitivity to time-dependent changes in the scattering medium. Polarization entanglement, rep- resented asis useful for analyzing birefringence or other polarization-dependent effects in the scattering region. Path entanglement, where correlations exist between the spa- tial paths of photons, enables multi-path interference and is highly advantageous for spatially resolved measurements. Orbital angular momentum (OAM) entangle- ment, expressed asprovides access to rotational Doppler effects, allowing the detection of swirling or turbulent motions in the gases. Finally, quantization entanglement, based on dis- crete photon number correlations, enables precise measurement of photon statistics and quantum noise.

[0217] The choice of the optimal quantum state for the entanglement re- ceiver depends on environmental factors, photon flux, and the desired sensitivity. While NOON states maximize phase precision, they are fragile under decoher- ence and may not perform well in lossy environments. Hybrid states, such as squeezed NOON states, could provide enhanced sensitivity while maintaining re- silience against noise. Dynamically tunable entangled states, which adapt to en- vironmental changes, may also be advantageous for real-world applications. By tailoring the quantum state to match specific requirements, the entanglement re- ceiver achieves maximum performance, paving the way for scalable, high-precision quantum vibrometry in fire detection and other dynamic sensing scenarios.

[0218] In Fig. 25 the specific attenuation of the atmosphere under different conditions is plotted against EM frequency, wavelength, and photon energy in electron volts. It is clear that an RF band of 30 mm to 3 mm is a low loss region of the EM spectrum under all environmental conditions. A second best choice is in the infrared around 1 pm to 3 pm window, which is relatively transparent when there is no rain. As rain tends to extinguish or at least impede the progress of wildfires the infrared band is also of some use, perhaps in closer in fire suppression. The RF band has the advantage of penetrating power through the atmosphere filled withrain, mist, smoke, embers, trees, and non-conducting building materials, but it is in a highly congested region of the EM spectrum and governed by FCC regulations in the US and similar regulatory bodies in other countries. The infrared band is not as capable of penetrating the atmosphere or overcoming smoke and embers, but it is easier to work with to generate atmospheric detonations needed for the generation of acoustic shockwaves.

[0219] A fire detection and suppression system can sense the environment by launching phase (or amplitude) coded Boomerang Light Beams BLBs, e.g. Bipolar Phase Shift Keyed (BPSK) encoded curved light beams, from fixed Re- mote Forest Sentry (RFS) locations on the ground, which are located on a roughly 20 km grid in the forest. With each RFS protecting about 400 square km of forest with a fire detection resolution (earth pixel) of about 10 m x 10 m at the maximum range (halfway between RFS systems) from a roughly 10 m diameter aperture that is configured flat on the earth at the RFS location and under a low- cost cover to protect the asset and have it blend into surroundings with the natural surroundings with camouflage. The above sizing parameters are only meant to provide a rough estimate.

[0220] Each of these earth-pixels is scanned at electronic speeds. For ex- ample, a full scan of 10 million earth-pixels could be done every 50 seconds, at a BLB reposition rate of 200 kHz. Each separate stable dwell of the BLB im- prints a location-tagged pulse-modulated transmission code into the Doppler shifts of heated gases, which are released in significant amounts in a forest fire. Pulse coding helps with code-locking the low-level backscatter at the receiver, which may be a well-known ghost spectrometer using quantum squeezed and / or entangled light for enhanced detection. The pulse coding also helps to resolve ambiguous sig- nals between RFS stations. The temperature of the fire is encoded in the spectral broadening of hot gases to help with fire identification and ensuring human and environmental safety before autonomous Al algorithms authorizes an engagement by fully automated Electronic Warfare (EW) and directed energy photopyroki- netic techniques, which detonate the atmosphere in and around the forest fire by intense light-fields that induce avalanche breakdown (a kind of localized lighting) to induce pulsed acoustic shock waves (a kind of localized thunder) to disrupt the fire by non-chemical means.

[0221] Thus, a photopyrokinetic fire suppression system can be made fully autonomous to suppress fires quickly over large areas. By keeping the system on the ground and using light to suppress fires, the system becomes robust against weather as well as the availability of water, personnel, air vehicle assets, and land vehicle assets. By using multiple spectral frequencies and spectral broadening to identify the existence of a fire and its temperature we provide a measure of safe autonomous operations.

[0222] A single RFS can also be stationed near high-value assets, such as communities that are near forested areas. If a fire breaks out near the communities the automated defense grid activates under the direction of a fast acting artificial intelligence and the local asset, with detailed maps of streets and structures, comes on-line for fire defense acting at the speed of light.

[0223] Fig 26 shows a high level diagram of a light-based photopyrokinetic fire suppression system comprising: a light mode controller 26a and a light source 26b, which taken together control at least one light beam 26c, which can scan a gird of “earth pixels” 26d sequentially for a wildfire 26e. Once detected the mode controller changes the character of the light source and the resulting light beam to extinguish the fire. This can include ember control modes and fire suppression modes.OTHER APPLICATIONS:Wildfire Suppression and Environmental Control: The main emphasis of this disclosure has been wildfire suppression using electronic warfare techniques, but the underlying technology has numerous additional applications across a variety of domains. The system could start controlled wildfires to create fire breaks in areas at high risk of wildfire spread. These applications highlight the broad potential of the system to transform wildfire management and environmental control.Beamed Power Networks and Aerospace Applications: The system could be used to develop static and mobile beamed power networks, enabling wireless energy transfer for remote infrastructure or vehicles. Furthermore, the system could be harnessed for powering aircraft or even trans- atmospheric spacecraft, us- ing beamed energy to achieve continuous propulsion without relying on onboardfuel. Directed energy beams could also serve as propulsion systems for spacecraft, enabling efficient interplanetary travel by eliminating the need for onboard fuel. It also allows for orbital debris clearing by ablation-based propulsion of targeted orbiting debris, which is a growing problem to orbital activities.Battlefield Applications and Defense: On the battlefield, the system could function as a variable lethality howitzer, electronically generating shockwaves for area denial or precision-targeted effects. It could also be adapted for remotely detonating land mines to clear hazardous areas efficiently and safely. The technol- ogy shows potential for anti-drone and anti-aircraft systems, where directed energy and shockwaves could neutralize aerial threats with precision. Additionally, missile defense could benefit from the creation of intense acoustic shockwaves to disrupt incoming projectiles, leveraging mechanical forces rather than relying on heat or light beam interception.Underwater Applications: Extending the concept to underwater environments, the system could generate underwater shockwaves for use in anti-torpedo defense, marine exploration, or as a means to clear underwater mines. These shockwaves could also support applications in environmental remediation, such as breaking down pollutants like oil spills, or seeding underwater ecosystems with controlled energy inputs.Shaped Explosions and Manufacturing: In industrial and military contexts, the technology might replace shaped chemical explosives with electronically formed shaped explosions, allowing for precise control over blast geometry. Advanced man- ufacturing processes could also benefit from the system’s ability to enable precise material shaping, bonding, or deposition through controlled energy delivery. For example, directed shockwaves might weld dissimilar materials, or energy beams could create ultrafine patterns for semiconductor fabrication or advanced electron- ics.Medical Technology: The system could enable non-invasive medical treatments by precisely generating localized shockwaves or controlled bursts of energy. Appli- cations include lithotripsy, where focused acoustic shockwaves break down kidneystones or gallstones, and targeted cancer therapy, where controlled pulses dis- rupt tumor growth while sparing surrounding tissue. High-intensity plasma could also inspire advancements in sterilization techniques, deactivating pathogens on medical instruments. Additionally, shockwaves could accelerate wound healing by stimulating cellular repair processes, and directed acoustic energy might be used for non-invasive brain stimulation, aiding in conditions like Parkinson’s disease or depression. The ability to use a MPMC to pre-distort EM energy to pass through scattering tissues for focused attack on tumors, bone spurs, kidney stones, etc.. is possible.Agriculture: In agriculture, the system could revolutionize tasks such as non- contact fruit picking, where controlled acoustic waves gently detach ripe fruit without damage. It could also enable precision seed planting, embedding seeds into soil at optimal depths while minimizing disturbance. Controlled shockwaves could loosen compacted soil, enhancing aeration and water absorption. For pest and disease management, the system could deliver localized pulses to disrupt pests or pathogens without relying on chemical pesticides, offering an eco-friendly alternative. Low-intensity acoustic waves could also aid crop pollination, partic- ularly in areas with declining bee populations.Entertainment: The technology could create dynamic, large-scale displays of light, sound, and interactive elements for entertainment. By precisely controlling directed energy and acoustic shockwaves, the system could produce firework-like visual displays without explosives, offering a safer, reusable alternative. It could also project giant, interactive avatars in the sky, using structured light to create holographic images that can move, “speak,” or “sing.” Furthermore, it could generate large-area soundscapes, synchronizing sound for outdoor events over vast areas without traditional speaker arrays.3D Printing of Homes and Space Habitats: The system could transform 3D printing of homes and space habitats by leveraging its precision to compact construction materials like concrete or regolith layer by layer. For space habitats, the system could sinter or fuse layers of material using localized plasma bursts, eliminating the need for binders. It could also align layers and correct defects duringprinting, ensuring high-precision structures suitable for extreme environments. In microgravity, directed energy could position and assemble materials, making it invaluable for constructing modular habitats in orbit or on planetary surfaces.Private and Covert Communication: The system could enable private and covert communication by directing energy along curved paths, such as struc- tured light beams or confined acoustic waves. This minimizes dispersion and re- duces interception risk. Structured beams like Bessel or Airy beams could follow predefined trajectories, bending around obstacles to “hide” signals within unused regions of the spectrum. Shockwave-based communication offers another layer of security, transmitting encoded information through air or water in environments unsuitable for electromagnetic waves.Wireless Computer Interconnections: Structured light beams could revo- lutionize wireless computer interconnections by providing high-speed, low-latency data transmission. Techniques like orbital angular momentum (OAM) encod- ing allow multiple data streams on a single beam, greatly increasing bandwidth. These beams reduce crosstalk, enable dynamic reconfiguration, and improve se- curity by confining signals to precise trajectories. Applications include replacing fiber-optic links in data centers, interconnecting chips in high-performance com- puting, and optimizing distributed computing networks.Atmospheric and Environmental Applications: The system could remotely detect poison gases by analyzing Doppler shifts, scattering patterns, or absorption signatures, enabling identification even at low concentrations. Structured light could sense turbulence ahead of aircraft by detecting changes in the refractive index of air, improving aviation safety. For weather monitoring, directed beams could map hurricanes and tornadoes, providing high-resolution data on atmospheric dynamics. The system could also seed the atmosphere with aerosols or ionized particles to promote condensation and create rainfall, offering solutions for drought mitigation and weather pattern management.Optical Conveyor for Particulate Materials: The technology could be ad- apted to move vast quantities of particulate materials, such as water mist, drillingeffluent, or other microscopic particles, by utilizing structured light beams as an electromagnetic conveyor belt. This concept builds on the principles of optical tweezers, where light’s momentum and intensity gradients exert forces on particles, allowing them to be manipulated and transported. Unlike traditional optical tweez- ers, which typically handle a few particles at a time, structured light beams in this system could act on millions, billions, or even trillions of particles simultaneously, creating a scalable method for bulk material transport. For instance, during elec- tromagnetic (EM) ablative drilling into the Earth, effluent particles generated by the process could be directed away from the drilling site by light beams, minimizing contamination and improving efficiency. Similarly, water mist or aerosolized par- ticles could be collected and moved over large distances without physical contact, leveraging the precision and adaptability of structured light. By dynamically shap- ing and steering these beams, the system could selectively target specific particle types based on size, material, or refractive properties, enabling advanced sort- ing and transport in both industrial and environmental applications. This optical conveyor belt approach represents a significant advancement in material handling technology, combining the precision of light with the scalability required for bulk operations.Beam Bots for Deep Geothermal Energy Extraction: Extending the con- cept of power beaming, the technology could enable the deployment of beam bots, advanced devices capable of traveling deep into the Earth’s crust to capture energy directly from geothermal sources. These beam bots would eliminate the need for traditional steam-based energy extraction, which often requires large, inefficient in- frastructure. Instead, the bots would utilize directed energy to extract and convert geothermal heat into electromagnetic energy, which could then be beamed back to the surface. This approach not only reduces the size and complexity of geothermal energy systems but also allows for energy extraction in compact and previously inaccessible geothermal sites.

[0224] In addition to energy extraction, the beam bots could integrate ad- vanced capabilities for drilling, leveraging electromagnetic ablative techniques to create boreholes while simultaneously handling and removing tiny particulate ef- fluent through optical conveyor systems. These bots could potentially navigate curved boreholes, enabling access to geothermal reservoirs that are not verticallyaligned, thereby increasing the flexibility and reach of geothermal energy projects. By combining drilling, effluent management, and energy extraction into a single system, beam bots could revolutionize geothermal energy, offering a highly efficient, compact, and scalable solution for sustainable power generation.Critical Tech: The key to unlocking many of these applications is large-area, high-power, structured-light beams, where the modal properties of light are care- fully controlled. This can be accomplished with large-area MPMC technology that is implemented with metafilm optics that is based on stress-yield fluids.SPECIFICATION END NOTES:

[0225] First, while the above descriptions in each of the sections contains many specific details. These details should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but merely providing illustrations of some of the possible methods, physical embodiments and applications. In particular, the present invention is thus not limited to the above modeling and physical embodiments, but can be changed or modified in various ways on the basis of the general principles of the invention.

[0226] Second, every effort was made to provide accurate analysis of the physics as part of teaching the disclosure. Nonetheless, typographical and other errors in equations sometimes make it through reviews. This should not be consid- ered disqualifying in any way. Therefore, derivations, individual equations, textural descriptions, and figures should be taken together so that clarity of meaning is as- certained from a body of information even in the case of unintended theoretical and / or typographical errors. Also, note that many of the figures in the disclosure are not to scale, but are instead provided to maximize understanding of the under- lying concepts. So again the totality of the disclosure is important to consider.

[0227] Third, the theoretical discussion provided in this disclosure may reused some mathematical symbols to mean different things in different locations of the text for historical and pragmatic reasons. The meaning is readily discernible by those skilled in the art when taken in context of the associated descriptions.

[0228] Fourth, many potential end-use applications follow from a few phys- ical principles and a few generic embodiments. There are more potential specific applications than can reasonably be discussed and shown in detail with figures.For example, remote power beaming from one point on the planet to another point on the planet, even over the horizon, is possible with variations of this technology. This allows, for example, application like orbital debris clearing.

[0229] Fifth, the scope of the invention should in general be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents jointly with the examples, embodiments, and theoretical analysis provided.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY:

[0230] The directed energy firefighting device has broad industrial applica- bility in mitigating large-scale wildfires, providing a rapid and effective alternative to conventional firefighting methods. Beyond firefighting, the system can be ap- plied to power beaming for various applications of remote power delivery such as orbital debris clearing. Its modular and multi-modal design makes it adaptable for diverse industries, including energy, aerospace, and medicine, agriculture, where precise manipulation of light energy for controlled delivery is critical.REFERENCE SIGNS LIST5a Ground 14c Launch Plane5b Canopy Fire 14d Max Angle Plane6a Detonation Zone 16a Transition Line6b Input Light 17a Toroid6c First Light Boundary 17b Coordinate6d Second Light Boundary 18a Poloidal Helicoid Wavefront6e Plasma 18b Toridal Rays6f Broadband Light 19a Toroidal Helicoid Wavefront6g Low Pressure Region 18b Poloidal Rays6h High Pressure Region 20a Mode Converter Segment6i Acoustic Propagation Arrow 20b Phase Screen7a Disk 20c Phase Shift Pixel7b Rectangle 20d Input Plane7c Annulus 20e Output Plane8a Input Light 20f Source Wave8b Plasma Ball 20g Source Wavefronts8c Array 20h Target Wave8d Local Wavefront 20i Source Wavefronts8e 1st Extended Wavefront 20j Abrupt Phase Shift8f Over-Pressure Plot 20k First Forward Direction9a 2nd Plasma Array 201 Second Forward Direction9b 2nd Extended Wavefront 20m Backward Propagation Direction9c 2nd Over-Pressure Plot 21a Phase Screen Stack12a Fire 21b Phase Screen12b EM Signal b 21c Phase Pixel12c EM Signal c 21d Input Port12d EM Signal d 21e Output Port12e Detonation Zone 22a First NFPA Antenna12f Time Arrow- 1 22b Second NFPA Antenna12g Time Arrow- 2 22c Colloid Metafilm12h Sub-Detonations 22d Wire Antenna Element12i Acoustic Wave 22e Wire Antenna Element12a Fire 26a Light Mode Controller13b Curved Light Beams 26b Light Source13c Range Ideal Light Beam 26c Light Beam13d Light Source 26d Earth Pixels13e Range 26e Wildfire14a Structured-Light Beam14b Beam Trajectory

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed:

1. An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:A directed energy system comprising:A structured light generator configured to produce an elec- tromagnetic beam; andA directed energy controller operatively connected to the structured light generator; wherein the directed energy controller is configured to dynamically moderate properties of the electromag- netic beam, and the properties comprise trajectory, intensity, phase, polarization, orbital angular momentum, frequency, quantum entan- glement, or a combination thereof; wherein the electromagnetic beam is capable of inducing atmospheric effects by electromagnetic energy transformation and deposition.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam is capable of inducing ionization of air, atmospheric detonation, emission of sound waves , emission of shockwaves, or a combination thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is configured to direct the electromagnetic beam to multiple space-time locations to create a space-time acoustic array configured to focus sound to a region over time.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is configured to induce a plurality of shockwaves.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam is capable of pulverizing trees.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam is capable of transporting liquid particles, solid nanoparticles, or a combination thereof to a desired space-time location.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy controller comprises a directed energy source, a receiver, or both.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam comprises light energy from one or more wavelengths.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is capable of directing the electromagnetic beam along a curved trajectory without refrac- tion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is capable of causing the formation of vortex rings, vortex loops, or both.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam is diffraction- resistant.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam can penetrate clouds, water mist, airborne debris, trees, housing structures, embers, or a combination thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system further com- prises a multi-plane mode converter configured to structure the trajectory, focal length, polarization, phase offset, power level, intensity, entanglement state, orbital angular momentum, particle trapping capacity, temporal ex- tent, or a combination thereof, of the electromagnetic beam.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system further com- prises a multi-plane mode converter, the multi-plane mode converter com- prises yield-stress liquids and nanoparticles in a colloid metafilm configured to introduce a threshold to nanoparticle rotation until a threshold torque is reached, thereby allowing pixel activation based on electric held strength.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system further com- prises a multi-plane mode converter, and the multi-plane mode converter further comprises near held phased array antennas.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is conhgured to detect hres, extinghish hres, or a combination thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is conhgured to use quantum entanglement, Doppler vibrometry, sampling of ground pixels in a dense grid, or a combination thereof, to detect hre, hre suppression, or a combination thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, where in the electromagnetic beam can be directed along substantially curved trajectories.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam is pulsed.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system employs or- thogonal electromagnetic modes to produce the electromagnetic beam.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam is produced by accelerated light beams that are non-paraxial solutions of Maxwell’s equa- tions.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is configured to adjust the electromagnetic beam characteristics based on atmospheric con- ditions.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam comprises struc- tured light capable of trapping water, and transporting the water, and releas- ing the water.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system comprises an aperture.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the aperture is about 0.1 m to about 10 m in diameter.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy controller is configured to communicate and collaborate with other directed energy system.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structured light generator comprises a large-area spatial light modulator.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam is configured to induce atmospheric detonation in space and time to synthesize intense hypersonic sound waves.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the structured light generator comprises a source, and the source comprises Gyrotrons, Traveling Wave Tubes, Klystrons, Magnetrons, Backward Wave Oscillators, Free Electron Lasers, Crossed-Field Amplifiers, Relativistic Magnetrons, Vircators (Virtual Cathode Oscillators), Plasma-Based Microwave Generators, Cherenkov Devices, Gyro-BWO (Back- ward Wave Oscillator), Orbitrons, Smith-Purcell Radiation Sources, Dielec-trie Wakefield Accelerators, Parametric Amplifiers, Reentrant Cavities, He- licon Wave Sources, Metamaterial-Based Sources, Photonic Crystal Oscil- lators, Superradiant Sources, Quantum Cascade Lasers, or a combination thereof.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic beam comprises struc- tured light beams.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is configured to detect and utilizes quantum entanglement or Doppler vibrometry.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atmospheric effects comprise acoustic sound waves, shockwaves, or a combination thereof.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the atmospheric effects are capable of disrupting combustion processes.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is configured to use doppler-based sensing and vibrometry.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the directed energy system is configured to transfer power by the electromagnetic beam.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein said directed energy system is configured as a platform technology capable of integrating multiple functionalities, including wildfire suppression, power transmission, and environmental monitoring.

37. A method, the method comprising:Providing a directed energy system, wherein the directed energy system comprises: a structured light generator configured to produce an electromagnetic beam; and a directed energy controller operatively connected to the structured light generator; inducing atmospheric effects by the electromagnetic beam;38. The method of claim 37, further comprising focusing the electromagnetic beam to a region of the atmosphere.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the atmosphere effects comprises ionization, local heating, atmospheric detonation, the emission of intense sound waves, or a combination thereof.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the inducing comprises directing the elec- tromagnetic beam to multiple atmospheric locations to create a space-time acoustic array that focuses sound waves to the fire.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the inducing comprises creating a sequence of shockwaves in rapid succession.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising pulverizing fuel for the fire.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the inducing comprises transporting water from location to another with the electromagnetic beam.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic beam comprises light, sound or both.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein the inducing comprises forming vortex rings, vortex loops, or both.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic beam is directed through clouds, water mist, and airborne debris to the fire.

47. The method of claim 37, further comprising forming the electromagnetic beam, wherein forming the electromagnetic beam comprises determining a structure light, trajectories, focal lengths, polarizations, phase offsets, power levels, intensities, entanglement state, orbital angular momentum, particle trapping capacity, or a combination thereof.

48. The method of claim 37, further comprising forming the electromagnetic beam, wherein forming the electromagnetic beam comprises yield-stress liq- uids to introduce a threshold to nanoparticle rotation until a threshold torque is reached, thereby allowing pixel activation based on electric held strength.

49. The method of claim 37, further comprises multi-plane mode converter hav- ing Near Field Phased Array antennas to control phase over large areas.

50. The method of claim 37, further comprising detecting, wherein the detecting comprises transmitting energy for detection, receive energy for fire detection, or both.

51. The method of claim 37, further comprising detecting, wherein the detect- ing comprises using quantum entanglement, Doppler vibrometry, sequential sampling of ground pixels in a dense grid, or a combination thereof.

52. The method of claim 37, further comprising creating control burns, fire breaks, or a combination thereof.

53. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic beam is pulsed.

54. The method of claim 37, further comprising selecting modes, wherein the modes are orthogonal.

55. The method of claim 37, further comprising accelerating light beams that are non-paraxial solutions of Maxwell’s equations.

56. The method of claim 37, converting the electromagnetic beam to electricity.

57. The method of claim 37, adjusting the electromagnetic beam based on at- mospheric conditions, temperature, humidity, wind speed, or a combination thereof.

58. The method of claim 37, further comprising forming the electromagnetic beam, wherein the forming the electromagnetic beam comprises forming structured light.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the structured light comprises helical beams.

60. The method of claim 58, trapping particles with the structured light, trans- porting the particles, and releasing the particles.

61. The method of 58, wherein the forming the electromagnetic beam com- prises large-area spatial light modulator, spatial light modulator based on optometaphoresis, or both.

62. The method of claim 37, further comprising cooperating with other directed energy system.

63. The method of claim 37, wherein the suppressing the fire comprises using multiple directed energy modalities.

64. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic beam is a form of light that induces atmospheric detonation in space and time to synthesize intense hypersonic sound waves .

65. The method of claim 37, further comprises pulverizing a fuel source by using the electromagnetic beam to create a detonation zone.

66. The method of claim 37, creating the electromagnetic beam based on source, and the source comprises Gyrotrons, Traveling Wave Tubes, Klystrons, Mag- netrons, Backward Wave Oscillators, Free Electron Lasers, Crossed-Field Amplifiers, Relativistic Magnetrons, Vircators (Virtual Cathode Oscillators), Plasma-Based Microwave Generators, Cherenkov Devices, Gyro-BWO (Back- ward Wave Oscillator), Orbitrons, Smith-Purcell Radiation Sources, Dielec- tric Wakefield Accelerators, Parametric Amplifiers, Reentrant Cavities, He- licon Wave Sources, Metamaterial-Based Sources, Photonic Crystal Oscil- lators, Superradiant Sources, Quantum Cascade Lasers, or a combination thereof.

67. The method of claim 37, wherein the electromagnetic beam comprises light beams, Bessel beams, Laguerre-Gaussian modes, Airy beams, or a combina- tion thereof.

68. The method of claim 37, further comprising generating acoustic shockwaves, using the electromagnetic beam.

69. The method of claim 37, further comprising adapting properties of the elec- tromagnetic beam dynamically based on atmospheric conditions, humidity, temperature, wind speed, and combinations thereof.

70. The method of claim 37, further comprising transmitting power remotely using the electromagnetic beam.

71. The method of claim 37, further comprising detecting using quantum entan- glement Doppler vibromentry, or a combination thereof.

72. The method of claim 37, further comprising propulsion by hearing regions of air or space plasma using the electromagnetic beam.

73. The method of claim 37, further comprising generating shockwaves in water using the electromagnetic beam.

74. The method of claim 37, further comprising seeding the clouds with the electromagnetic beam.

75. The method of claim 37, further comprising manipulating particulate matter using the electromagnetic beam.

76. An apparatus, wherein the apparatus is configured to create an electromagnetic beam;the electromagnetic beam is characterized by a helical phase struc- ture comprising orbital angular momentum, defined by poloidal and toroidal mode numbers m and n, respectively, wherein the phase struc- ture spirals along a curved trajectory of the electromagnetic beam; the electromagnetic beam exhibits an aperiodic and oscillating in- tensity structure in the direction perpendicular to propagation, wherein the separation of intensity peaks and zero crossings defines a structured electromagnetic beam’s spatial trajectory, cross-sectional confinement, and focusing capability; and the electromagnetic beam comprises a modal structure comprising transverse electric modes, transverse magnetic modes, or combinations thereof.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the electromagnetic beam has a curved trajectory and a spiraling phase configured to enable precise energy deposition in a defined spatial region.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the electromagnetic beam is generated using a multi-plane mode converter comprising programmable phase screens configured to iteratively transform input electromagnetic modes into struc- tured electromagnetic beam modes.

79. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the aperiodic and oscillating intensity structure is substantially described by a Bessel function of the first kind.

80. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the electromagnetic beam is formed by superimposing basic electromagnetic modes to create superposition modes.

81. A method, the method comprises: generating an electromagnetic beam, wherein the electromagnetic beam is characterized by a helical phase structure comprising orbital angular momentum, defined by poloidal and toroidal mode numbers m and n, respectively, wherein the phase structure spirals along a curved trajectory of the beam; the electromagnetic beam exhibits an aperi- odic and oscillating intensity structure in the direction perpendicular to propagation trajectory, wherein a separation of intensity peaks andzero crossings defines a structured electromagnetic beam’s spatial trajec- tory, cross-sectional confinement, and focusing capability; and the elec- tromagnetic beam comprises a modal structure comprising transverse electric modes, transverse magnetic modes, or combinations thereof.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the electromagnetic beam has a curved trajectory without the need for interacting mater by refraction, reflection, or diffraction, and a spiraling phase that enables precise energy deposition in a defined spatial region for directed energy applications.

83. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the generating further comprises using a Multi-Plane Mode Converter comprising programmable phase screens con- figured to iteratively transform input electromagnetic modes into structured electromagnetic beam modes.

84. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the aperiodic and oscillating intensity structure is substantially described by a Bessel function of the first kind.

85. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the generating further comprises forming the electromagnetic beam by superimposing basic electromagnetic modes to create superposition modes.

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