“High-quality beams can be produced not only in the first second, but also maintained indefinitely,” they said.
The new cooling system uses advanced structures and optimised gas flow to remove heat from inside the laser weapon, while minimising turbulence and vibration and improving mirror cleanliness.
It has the potential to significantly change the face of battle by extending engagement times, increasing range and damage, and reducing logistics and costs, according to the researchers.
Inside the laser weapon, a high-energy beam is generated through a process called stimulated emission. This involves exciting atoms or molecules in a gain medium, such as a crystal or gas, to a higher energy state.
When these excited atoms or molecules return to their ground state, they emit photons, which are then amplified through a process of optical feedback to create a high-energy laser beam.
The beam control system is responsible for directing and controlling the laser beam, typically through the use of mirrors and lenses. This system must be highly precise and stable, as even small deviations or vibrations can cause the beam to miss its designated course.
But as the laser beam passes through the air, it heats up the gas in its path, causing it to expand and create a turbulent flow.
This turbulence can cause the beam to scatter and distort, reducing its effectiveness and accuracy.
Additionally, the heated gas can cause the mirrors and lenses in the system to become contaminated, leading to a decline in performance and a shortened lifespan.
In some cases, larger pollutant particles burning on the mirrors can even result in them being cracked or damaged, greatly reducing the practicability and reliability of the high-energy laser weapons, according to the researchers.
