Underwater Laser Target Destruction via Air Bubble Shock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underwater defense systems face challenges in effectively destroying torpedoes due to the attenuation of laser beams when propagated through water, making direct irradiation difficult and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An underwater object destruction system that includes a detecting device, a laser oscillator, and an irradiation optical system, which detects and condenses a laser beam to create an air bubble or plasma at a target position, generating a shock wave to destroy the object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a laser beam is directly irradiated to a torpedo in the underwater, then the target can be destroyed, but the laser beam attenuates greatly in the underwater making it difficult to destroy the target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air bubbles as an intermediary medium to transfer and concentrate laser energy. The air bubbles are generated at the target position using a separate generation device, and the laser beam is made to converge on these bubbles rather than directly on the torpedo. The air bubbles act as energy concentrators that amplify the laser effect, solving the problem of laser attenuation in water while maintaining effective target destruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by generating air bubbles at the target position before or during laser irradiation. This preliminary placement of air bubbles creates the necessary conditions for effective energy transfer, allowing the laser beam to concentrate its energy on the air bubbles which then transfer the energy to the target, overcoming the attenuation issue.
2Power
If a high-power laser beam is used to destroy the target, then the destruction effectiveness is improved, but the laser beam attenuates greatly in the underwater
Solution Approach 1:
Air bubbles serve as an intermediary that enhances the effectiveness of the laser beam. By generating air bubbles at the target position and converging the laser beam onto them, the system creates a focal point for energy concentration. The air bubbles amplify the laser's destructive power through localized energy density increase, allowing effective target destruction even when the laser beam undergoes significant attenuation in water.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the medium by introducing air bubbles (changing from pure water to water-air mixture). This parameter change creates regions of different refractive indices and energy absorption characteristics, allowing the laser beam to concentrate energy more effectively at the air bubble locations, thereby maintaining high power delivery to the target despite water attenuation.
3Reliability
If the laser beam is condensed to generate air bubble or plasma, then the shock wave destruction is achieved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into functionally independent modules: a laser beam generation unit, an air bubble generation device, an optical system for beam convergence, and a control unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easier maintenance and operation, reducing the practical complexity despite the advanced functionality of generating shock waves through air bubble or plasma formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves multi-functionality by combining laser irradiation, air bubble generation, and optical convergence capabilities in a single integrated platform. This universal system can adapt to different target types and conditions, and the modular design allows the same basic architecture to be applied to various underwater destruction scenarios, reducing overall system complexity through functional integration.
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 efficiently destroys underwater targets by generating a shock wave from an air bubble or plasma, effectively countering the threat of torpedoes despite laser beam attenuation in water.
Implementation Method 1
The laser oscillator generates a laser beam. The irradiation optical system determines a direction and a condensing position of the laser beam generated by the laser oscillator
Implementation Method 2
the laser beam is condensed in a target position in underwater, which is determined in relation to the target object detected by the detecting device, to generate an air bubble or plasma
Implementation Method 3
to generate an air bubble or plasma
Implementation Method 4
The underwater object destruction system destroys the target object with a shock by an air bubble or plasma
Implementation Method 5
a bubble jet is generated, and the underwater object is destroyed with this bubble jet
Data Source
AI summary
A laser beam is condensed in a close position to a target object in underwater so as to generate an air bubble or plasma. The target object is efficiently destroyed by a shock by the air bubble or the plasma.