These short courses were offered in conjunction with the Thirteenth Annual Directed Energy Symposium, held 15-19 November 2010 in Bethesda, Maryland. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits were awarded upon successful completion of these DEPS short courses.
Course 1. Introduction to High Energy Laser Systems Classification: Unclassified, Public Release Instructor: John Albertine, Consultant Duration: Half-day course CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This lecture will introduce the field of HEL weapons and their associated technologies using an interweaving of technical requirements, history, and accomplishments. The basic attributes of HEL weapons will be covered, leading into discussions of laser-material interaction, lethality, potential weapon applications, system requirements, laser power scaling, propagation, and beam control. DoD interest in tactical applications, current technical issues, and areas of research emphasis will be highlighted. Intended Audience: This course is geared to those with a technical background who seek an overview of HEL technology and the current state of the art. Individuals who are beginning to work in the field or technical managers who wish an integrated overview would benefit from the class. Instructor Biography: Mr. Albertine has his B.S. and M.S. in Physics from Rose Polytechnic Institute and Johns Hopkins University respectively. Prior to working for the Navy, he was a senior staff physicist in the Space Division of The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. From 1976 through 1997, he worked in the Navy's High Energy Laser (HEL) Program Office, directing the Navy’s technology development for the last 15 years. During that time, he led the development and test of the first megawatt class HEL system in the free world. He retired from civil service in 1997 and now consults for OSD, the Air Force, ONR, the Navy HEL program office, and Penn State in the Directed Energy field. Mr. Albertine is a member of the Air Force Science Advisory Board and has served as Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of the Directed Energy Professional Society. Mr. Albertine is also a DEPS Fellow.
Course 2. Introduction to High Power Microwave Systems Classification: Unclassified, Public Release Instructor: Dr. Al Kehs, Army Research Laboratory Duration: Half-day course CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This course will provide an introduction to RF Directed Energy weapons, also known as High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons. The course consists of four parts: 1) a general introduction to the basic terms and concepts, 2) a discussion of the varous types of effects that can be induced and how they are characterized, 3) the technologies that enable RF-DEW weaponization, and 4) hardening techniques and technologies. At the end of the class, students will know what RF-DEWs are and how they differ from classical Electronic Warfare and nuclear EMP. Students will learn the various ways in which microwaves couple into a target (i.e., front door/back door, in-band/out-of-band) and some of the many sorts of effects that they can precipitate. Technology discussions will show the difference between narrow band (NB) and ultra-wide band (UWB) sources, antennas and diagnostics, as well as the principal elements of the power systems needed to support them. The course concludes with a discussion of hardening techniques and technologies. Topics to be covered include:
Intended Audience: Newcomers to the field of RF-DEW or managers with some background in science and engineering will benefit the most from this course. Instructor Biography: Dr. Kehs retired in 2007 from the Army Research Lab where he had held a string of positions in the High Power Microwave management and research areas that stretched over most of his 30 year career at the lab. He is a former DEPS board member and has taught the Introduction to HPM course several times in the past. Dr. Kehs received the BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering in 1970 and 1973 and the MS and PHD degrees in Physics in 1984 and 1987 - all from the University of Maryland. He currently works as a part-time contractor for General Technical Services, LLC with an office at the Army Research Lab.
Course 3. Diode Pumped Alkali Lasers (DPALs) Classification: Unclassified, Public Release Instructor: Glen Perram, AFIT Duration: Half-day course CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: The Diode Pumped Alkali Laser (DPAL) system originally proposed and demonstrated by Krupke is a three level laser pumped by diode bars on the D2 transition, exciting the first 2P3/2 state of the alkali atom. Collisional relaxation to the 2P1/2 state is accomplished with a spin orbit relaxing gas such as ethane or methane, while pressure broadening of the absorption line has routinely been accomplished with He. The excited alkali atom then lases on the D1 line back to the ground state. Terminating the laser level at the ground state requires the gain volume to be fully bleached before achieving an inversion between the 2P1/2 and 2S1/2 states, resulting in pump threshold values of ~1 kW/cm2. Early laser demonstrations achieved laser output powers of 1-3 W in both rubidium and cesium with slope efficiencies as high as 82%. More recently, cw output powers as high as 145 W with in-band slope efficiencies of 28% have been reported. This course will develop the background spectroscopy and kinetics of the DPAL system, summarize recent laser demonstrations, discuss narrow banding of diode pump sources, develop the key performance and scaling equations, and outline several issues in the development of these devices for tactical weapons applications. Intended Audience: The course is intended for scientists and engineers with a basic understanding of laser engineering. Instructor Biography: Glen Perram, Professor of Physics, AFIT. B.S. Cornell University 1980, M.S. AFIT 1981, Ph.D. AFIT 1986. Professor Perram's research interests include chemical lasers, laser weapon modeling and simulation, remote sensing, and chemical physics. He has served on the AFIT faculty since 1989 and is the author of over 30 archival publications and 80 presentations.
Course 4. Windows, Substrates, and Coatings for HEL Applications Classification: Unclassified, Public Release Instructor: Bill Decker, Defense Acquisition University Duration: Half-day course CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This short course will discuss the current state of the art in windows, substrates and coatings when used in HEL systems. Windows for solid state and chemical lasers will be discussed, with the advantages and disadvantages of each material presented. Similar reviews of optical substrates for reflective optics and coatings for high energy laser systems will be presented. Sources of supply will be identified, along with recent experiences with each material. The pros and cons of these material and coatings choices will be reviewed as well as how these choices play into systems design and trades. Intended Audience: Program Managers, Systems Engineers, of HEL Systems. A fundamental understanding of optics is assumed. Instructor Biography: Mr. Decker is currently a Professor of Systems Engineering at the Huntsville Campus of the Defense Acquisition University and concurrently is the Director for the DAU Technology Transition Learning Center of Excellence. His experience includes over 30 years in electro-optics with ten years experience in high energy laser systems, including THEL, ABL, ATL and HELLADS, all while employed by Brashear (a division of L-3 Communications) in Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Decker holds a MS in Physics from the Naval Postgraduate School and a BS in Engineering from Cornell University.
Course 5. Introduction to Free Electron Laser Systems Classification: Unclassified, Public Release Instructors: Dinh Nguyen, Los Alamos National Laboratory Duration: Full-day course CEUs awarded: 0.7 Course Description: The purpose of this course is to introduce the audience to the physics and technologies of free electron lasers (FEL) driven by radio-frequency (RF) linear accelerators (linac). The topics to be covered include rudimentary concepts of laser and electron beam physics, the generation, acceleration and transport of high-brightness electron beams, wiggler/undulator radiation, and the production of high-power, coherent laser beams using various FEL architectures. Emphasis will be placed on practical design considerations of various FEL sub-systems, e.g. electron injectors, cathodes, superconducting RF accelerators, energy recovery beam transport, wiggler designs and photon beam optics. The audience will gain the basic accelerator and FEL knowledge that will aid them in selecting and/or designing various sub-systems of an energy recovery linac FEL. Intended Audience: Prerequisites for this short course include an undergraduate science degree and an optional college-level electricity & magnetism course. Instructor Biographies: Dinh C. Nguyen received B.S. with Honor in Chemistry at Indiana University, Bloomington in 1979 and Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1984. Since joining Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1984, he has done pioneering work in single molecule detection, up-conversion solid-state lasers, RF photoinjectors, advanced photocathodes, and high-gain amplifier FEL concepts such as the self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) and regenerative amplifier. The high-gain SASE experiments that he performed in 1997 are the first in a series of experiments that have culminated in the first X-ray FEL at SLAC. His current research includes the development of high-power FEL, high-average-current RF injectors, rugged photocathodes and new ideas of hard X-rays FEL. Dinh Nguyen is a member of the American Physical Society, the International FEL Program Committee, and the FEL Technology Area Working Group. He has published more than 60 refereed journal articles and numerous conference papers.
Course 6. Intellectual Property Considerations Classification: Unclassified, Public Release Instructors: Bill Decker, Defense Acquisition University Duration: Half-day course CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: The Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act (WSARA) and the Director, Defense Research and Engineering (DDRE) implementation directive have placed new requirements on technology developers, systems engineers and program managers. To implement this new law and follow the guidance provided, intellectual property rights must be considered from the initial development of the technology to the support of the technology throughout its lifecycle. This tutorial will review and discuss the planning and management for intellectual property required for successful program execution. This tutorial will be presented in an interactive mode, with student participation to ensure that the applications most relevant to the students will be addressed. Topics include:
Intended Audience: This course assumes a basic working knowledge of the JCIDS process, PPBE and the Defense Acquisition System as described in DODI 5000.02 It is appropriate for program managers, industry and government leaders, scientists and engineers committed to having our Warfighters benefit from new technology. Instructor Biographies: Mr. Decker is currently a Professor of Systems Engineering at the Huntsville Campus of the Defense Acquisition University and concurrently is the Director for the DAU Technology Transition Learning Center of Excellence. His experience includes over 30 years in electro-optics with ten years experience in high energy laser systems, including THEL, ABL, ATL and HELLADS, all while employed by Brashear (a division of L-3 Communications) in Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Decker holds a MS in Physics from the Naval Postgraduate School and a BS in Engineering from Cornell University.
Course 7. Introduction to Counter Directed Energy Classification: Unclassified, Public Release Instructors: Duration: Half-day course CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the field of counter-DEW; specifically this course will discuss the basic scientific aspects of protecting systems from DEW and review technologies available to counter the effects of DEW on various types of systems. Future research directions in counter-DEW technology will also be discussed. This course is intended to be an introduction to the subject and is intended to provide the attendee with a basic understanding of the technologies, issues and solutions surrounding efforts to counter directed energy weapon systems. At the end of the course you should have an understanding of (1) the basic operation & effects of directed energy weapons, (2) material hardening approaches, (3) atmospheric propagation effects & use in countering DEW, (4) operational techniques for counter-DEW, and (5) research directions for counter-DEW. Topics include:
Intended Audience: This course is intended for for engineers, scientists, system analysts, program managers, and military planners. Familiarity with basic optics and physics, such as that found in a two semester university level introductory physics course is beneficial. Instructor Biography: Dr. Michael Cathcart is a principal research scientist in the Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory of the Georgia Tech Research Institute. His research interests include physics-based modeling & simulation of visible and infrared phenomenology for active and passive sensors; analysis, assessment, and development of lethal and nonlethal directed energy technologies for operational deployment; and directed energy technology. John Devitt serves as Division Chief of the Remote Sensing Groups for the Electro-Optical Sciences Lab at GTRI. In this position, he oversees the RSG branch organizations including the LIDAR, Intelligent Sensor and Imaging Systems, Environmental Sensors, and Multispectral Image Modeling organizations. Prior to this he was Engineering Manager at L-3 Cincinnati Electronics in the Infrared Detector Business, and a Senior Optical Scientist at General Electric’s Global Research and Development Center. A lso serves as Chairman of the MSS Passive Sensors Committee, is a member of the SPIE Infrared Technology Committee, and has an appointment to the National Academy of Sciences Research Council. Mr. Devitt has 16 US and International Patents, over 40 publications, and a Masters Degree in Physics.
Course 8. Power and Energy for DE Applications Classification: Unclassified, Public Release Instructor: Ed Shaffer Duration: Half-day course CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: Intended Audience: Instructor Biography: Dr. Edward C. Shaffer is Chief of the Energy and Power Division, Sensors and Electronic Devices Directorate, US Army Research Laboratory. Dr. Shaffer received the Bachelor of Science degree from the US Military Academy at West Point, NY; the Master of Science and Electrical Engineer degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. He has served in a variety of technical and leadership positions as a US Army officer, including tours in Germany, Korea and the United Kingdom, and was an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the US Military Academy. Dr. Shaffer was also a Senior Design Engineer with Solectria Corporation in Woburn, MA. He is also currently Associate Lead of the US Army RDECOM Power and Energy Technology Focus Team and serves as primary Army representative on the DoD Energy and Power Community of Interest working group. His military awards include the Legion of Merit; he is a Senior Member of IEEE and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Course 9. Introduction to the Laser Effects Weapon Analysis Tool (LEWAT) Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C, ITAR Instructors: Duration: Half-day course CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This course introduces the participants to LEWAT, a computer code that evaluates the lethality of laser radiation on potential HEL targets. Although this code emphasizes the response characteristics of target materials, it also includes laser-target engagement features and laser propagation models. One of the key attributes of the code is that it evaluates complete target geometry models (TGMs) and assesses the failure analysis logic tree (FALT) of the target. Specific examples of all of these aspects of the code will be illustrated. The background of the LEWAT code, its precursor models (PCLEM, DEWAT), and the current use of lethality algorithms will also be described. Intended Audience: Basic science and engineering background at the B.S. level and above. Instructor Biographies: Dr. Hart Legner is a Principal Research Scientist at Physical Sciences Inc. in Andover, MA. He is an expert in thermal response modeling and simulation of laser effects for laboratory experiments and vulnerability projections of new weapon systems. He has led the development of the DEWAT and LEWAT-EF computer models, was a major participant in the generation of the VAASEL code. His capability spans simple algorithms, one-dimensional and multi-dimensional thermal modeling. He was the organizer and editor of the Laser Effects Manual. Dr. Legner is also an expert in hypersonic flow modeling including boundary layers and wakes, re-entry physics and signatures, impact phenomenology, projectile aerodynamics and dynamics, laser propulsion, application of CFD tools, and hydrodynamic drag reduction. Dr. Legner has thirty nine years of experience. Mr. Tom Stagliano joined ITT Corporation (formerly Kaman Sciences) in 1978 and is currently a Senior Aerospace Engineer in charge of the ITT-AES Boston Office and head of the Vehicle Vulnerability Assessment program. Mr. Stagliano recently assisted NAVAIR in the crashworthiness of new composite helicopter designs, the USAF in the blast and bird-strike resistance of a new large radome for the B-52H, and ARL/SLAD in the mine blast resistance of new trucks and light armored vehicles. Previously, Mr. Stagliano lead or assisted with the blast and thermal assessment of the B-2A bomber, the RAH 66 helicopter, the A-12 attack aircraft, and the design of integrally ballistic resistant helicopter cargo floors. Mr. Stagliano is one of the lead engineers in the creation of Laser Effects Weapon Analysis Tool (LEWAT) for the US Air Force. Additionally, Mr. Stagliano was one of the reviewers of Professor Robert Ball’s 2nd edition of The Fundamentals of Aircraft Combat Survivability Analysis and Design. Mr. Stagliano has thirty-one years of experience. Dr. Bill Laughlin is the Area Manager of Thermal Technology at Physical Sciences Inc. He has performed numerous studies of laser effects on materials and the vulnerability of aerospace and ground targets to laser radiation. Experiments have been completed on a wide range of materials, using all laser wavelengths and waveforms. Target vulnerability analyses and tests have included IR and radar missiles, aircraft, UAV’s, strategic missiles and various ground targets, with studies on sensors, guidance electronics, engines, fuel tanks, warheads, flight control surfaces, solid rocket motors, and fuses. His work has included optical instrumentation development, target optical signatures measurement, and portable data acquisition devices. Dr. Laughlin has pioneered the use of high power lasers to simulate the severe thermal environments of rocket nozzles and high speed flight for materials test and evaluation. He is a fellow of the Directed Energy Professional Society. Dr. Laughlin has forty years of experience.
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