Research Summaries

Back Ship Induced Optical Turbulence Measurements on a DDG-51 Class Destroyer

Fiscal Year 2018
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Physics
Investigator(s) Blau, Joseph A.
Sponsor Space & Naval Warfare Systems Center-Pacific (Navy)
Summary As the USN moves forward with plans to deploy directed energy (DE) weapons to the fleet, further research on atmospheric effects is needed. This would help guide the Navy in developing tactics for DE weapons in various scenarios. The goal is real-time atmospheric characterization to inform Combat System automation.
An important atmospheric effect is ship-induced optical turbulence. We recently conducted an experiment onboard the Self Defense Test Ship at Port Hueneme to study this effect. Results indicate that it could impact DE weapon performance, and warrants further study. We plan to repeat the experiment on a DDG 51 FltIIA that is slated for DE weapon deployment. For a full understanding of this effect, measurements will be taken in various weather conditions, both in port and at sea. The results of these experiments will be incorporated into our laser performance model (ANCHOR) and other wave propagation codes to estimate the effect of ship-induced turbulence on target irradiance.
A further goal of this research is to continue educating naval officers at NPS about directed energy weapons and their effects. These officers will conduct thesis research to contribute to this project.
Keywords Atmospheric Propagation OPTICAL TURBULENCE high energy lasers
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal