DLR - Institute of Technical Physics - Atmospheric Propagation and Effect

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Atmospheric Propagation and Effect

Key topics of the Atmospheric Propagation and Effect department are the development of a high-brightness laser source (Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser, COIL) and the research on atmospheric laser beam propagation and laser effect for selected fields of application. Present R&D work is focused on the development and evaluation of laser-based standoff detection of harmful and hazardous substances.

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Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL)

The efficient long range effect of laser radiation requires powerful beam sources with high levels of brilliance and good atmospheric transmission, simultaneously. The Chemical Oxygen Iodine Laser (COIL) provides by its outstanding scaling properties, its high efficiency, its homogenous amplification medium, and its wavelength at 1.315 µm the optimum prerequisites for long-distance applications. With up to a 13 kW power output, the institute operates at the Lampoldshausen test site the most powerful laser of this kind in Europe.

Resonator development

For high energy lasers with weakly amplifying laser active media, pioneering field capable resonator concepts are designed and evaluated in numerical studies. Promising resonator architectures are used amongst others on the chemical oxygen iodine laser and optimised with regard to their output coupling properties. The experimental validation also constitutes the basis for scaling calculations on laser systems of higher and highest power classes.

Optical test range

The long range effect of laser radiation is substantially influenced by atmospheric properties and can therefore only be derived to a limited extent using conventional laboratory investigations. At the Lampoldshausen site, a laser test range has been designed and built for experimental investigations on laser beam propagation in order to provide reliable basics under real ambient weather conditions including atmospheric turbulence, solar radiation, precipitation, and visibility.

Optical turbulence and micrometeorology

In order to assess the results on the atmospheric propagation and long range effects, the actual atmospheric properties must be appropriately taken into account. A continuous weather measurement technology tailored to the issues of atmospheric propagation and ongoing topographical investigations on the behaviour of optical turbulence near ground level allow the inclusion of local conditions in the national and international framework.

Atmospheric propagation

The investigations regarding the propagation of high power laser radiation are supplemented with experiments on the propagation behaviour of laser beams of different wavelengths and power densities. The experimental work is accompanied by numerical studies on the description of atmospheric propagation. In addition, simulation models are used which are developed internally and enhanced on an ongoing basis.

Laser effect

The effect of high energy radiation on target structures is diagnosed by various measurement methods. Besides laboratory investigations, there are a series of tests to evaluate the long range effect of lasers on stationary and moving objects, thus giving results about the influence of the atmosphere on the laser effect on the target.

Laser based standoff detection

As part of security research, this main research aim addresses integrative systems for the detection of harmful and hazardous substances on surfaces or in the air. In contrast to the research and development work on the long range effect of continuous laser radiation, pulsed high power lasers are used for this application.

Contact

Dr.rer.nat. Jürgen Handke
German Aerospace Center
Institute of Technical Physics, Atmospheric Propagation and Effect
Lampoldshausen-Hardthausen
Tel.: +49 6298 28-230
Fax: +49 6298 28-582

Laser beam propagation through turbulent atmosphere (0.21 MB)

New Resonator Designs (0.15 MB)

Laser based standoff detection of CB(RN)E (0.34 MB)

Laser Test Range (0.17 MB)