Laser-Induced Plasma Wavefront Correction for Atmospheric Beam Distortion
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-power laser beams propagating through the atmosphere encounter atmospheric turbulences, leading to scintillation and thermal blooming, which cause beam divergence and loss of focus, reducing power density and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A target-free laser correction system that uses a secondary laser to generate laser-induced plasma in the air, detecting the energy emitted from this plasma to correct wavefront distortions caused by atmospheric effects, and adjusting the primary laser beam accordingly to maintain focus and power density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a high-power laser beam is propagated through the atmosphere, then the laser can reach the target, but atmospheric turbulences cause scintillation and thermal blooming leading to beam divergence and loss of focus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a preliminary laser beam to probe the atmospheric path before the main high-power laser beam. This preliminary beam creates plasma that serves as a reference to measure and characterize atmospheric turbulence and thermal blooming effects in advance, allowing the system to predict and compensate for distortions before they affect the main beam's focus precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback by detecting plasma emission from the preliminary laser beam's interaction with the atmosphere. This plasma emission provides real-time information about atmospheric conditions, which is fed back to control the main laser beam's propagation, enabling dynamic compensation for turbulence and thermal blooming effects to maintain focus precision over long distances
2Measurement precision
If sensors are placed near the target focal region to measure beam distortions, then measurement accuracy improves, but the system complexity and risk of target damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces plasma as an intermediary medium between the laser beam and the sensing system. The preliminary laser beam generates plasma in the atmospheric path, and this plasma itself becomes the sensing medium by emitting characteristic radiation that reveals atmospheric distortion information. This eliminates the need for physical sensors near the target, as the plasma serves as a distributed sensor throughout the beam path
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the laser beam's own interaction with the atmosphere to create the measurement signal. The preliminary laser beam generates plasma, and the plasma's emission characteristics directly provide information about atmospheric turbulence and thermal blooming. The beam essentially measures itself through its interaction with the medium, eliminating the need for separate external sensing equipment near the target
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively compensates for atmospheric distortions, ensuring that the primary laser beam remains focused and maintains its intended power density, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the laser application.
Implementation Method 1
laser-induced plasma created by the secondary laser beam
Implementation Method 2
detect energy emitted from laser induced plasma
Data Source
AI summary
A target-free laser correction system including a primary laser emitter configured to emit a primary laser beam on a target in a target zone, a secondary laser emitter configured to emit a secondary laser beam on a region of air in the target zone, optics optically coupled to the primary laser emitter and the secondary laser emitter. The optics may be configured to optically focus the secondary laser beam on the region of air in the target zone, correct a distortion of a wavefront of the secondary laser beam caused by atmospheric effects on the secondary laser beam, and focus the primary laser beam on the target in the target zone. Also included is a sensor configured to detect energy emitted from laser induced plasma created by the secondary laser beam, and a controller configured to control operation of the primary laser emitter, secondary laser emitter, optics and sensor.