Thermal blooming due to aerosols

Clinton W. Allen

doi:10.1117/12.18350

1 May 1990 Thermal blooming due to aerosols

Clinton W. Allen

Proceedings Volume 1221, Propagation of High-Energy Laser Beams Through the Earth's Atmosphere; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.18350
Event: OE/LASE '90, 1990, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

A theory of aerosol thermal blooming has been developed in which atmospheric aerosols being irradiated by a high energy laser (HEL) beam heat the air resulting in distortion of the laser beam. Other models of atmospheric thermal blooming assume the heating from aerosols at a given height to be uniform in the transverse direction. This model differs in that the discrete, particulate nature of aerosol heating is taken into account. It assumes that the only significant cooling of the irradiated particles is by conduction loss to the surrounding air. Results from the new aerosol blooming model are presented and its impact on the atmospheric propagation of HEL beams is assessed. For laser beam intensities typical of strategic defense scenarios and for aerosol characteristics of the desert southwest, it is found that the amount of aerosol-induced blooming is not significant.

Citation Download Citation

Clinton W. Allen "Thermal blooming due to aerosols", Proc. SPIE 1221, Propagation of High-Energy Laser Beams Through the Earth's Atmosphere, (1 May 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.18350

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