These short courses were offered in conjunction with the Ninth Annual Directed Energy Symposium. All of the courses were unclassified, although three were either limited distribution or export controlled. Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits were awarded for completion of these DEPS short courses.
Course 1. Directed Energy 101 Classification: Unclassified Instructors: Duration: Half-day course, starts at 0800 CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This course provides a general overview of directed energy weapons, including high energy laser (HEL) and high power microwave (HPM) systems. The emphasis is on the operationally distinguishing characteristics of systems nearing deployment. A special feature of the course is the availability of system simulators for use by the students. The simulators are being provided by AEgis Technologies Group. Topics to be covered include:
Intended Audience: This course is intended for students without a technical background as an introduction to the operational characteristics of HEL and HPM systems. Instructor Biographies: George Harrison is Director, Strategic Initiatives, Georgia Tech Research Institute, Atlanta, Georgia. Before his retirement from the U.S. Air Force in July 1997 as a Major General, he was Commander, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. George began his Air Force career as an F-4 pilot at MacDill AFB, Florida in 1962. Since then, he has flown combat in the O-1F from DaNang AB, Republic of Vietnam (RVN), and the F-4 from Cam Rahn Bay AB, RVN and Udorn Royal Thai AFB. In later years, he flew combat missions in the F-16C over Iraq (Provide Comfort), the C-130E, E-3A and E-8C over and into Bosnia (Deny Flight and Joint Endeavor) and the E-3B over Iraq (Desert Storm). He commanded the 4485th Test Squadron, the 479th Tactical Training Wing, the USAF Air Warfare Center, Joint Task Force Southwest Asia and served as the Director of Operations for U.S. Air Forces in Europe. George is an active civil aviator and is an FAA instructor in single and multiengine airplanes, instruments and gliders. His first solo was as a teenager in the Piper J-3 and now has logged over 7400 hours in 97 types of civil and military aircraft, including 530 hours in combat. An Airline Transport Pilot, he is experienced in conventional and tailwheel aircraft, and gliders and is type-rated in the Boeing 707/720, Lear Jet, and T-33. Don Lamberson is a retired Air Force Major General active in Directed Energy activities. His involvement in DE began in 1962 shortly after the invention of the laser and has continued more or less constantly since then. He was in the first class to be awarded the PhD from the Air Force Institute of Technology and was Program Manager of the earliest laser weapon technology program which included developing the Airborne Laser Laboratory (ALL). He was a founding director and member of DEPS. Mr. Patrick M. Cannon is the Southwest Region Director of Operations for The AEgis Technologies Group, Inc. He has over 27 years experience with military operations, operations research, and weapon systems evaluation which includes the use of M&S for analysis, training, and test & evaluation. Mr. Cannon spent 21 years as an Army combat engineer and operations research analyst serving as Assistant Professor of Engineering Management and Operations Research at the US Military Academy, West Point, NY, Project Manager at the US Army TRADOC Analysis Command, Ft. Leavenworth, KS, and as Chief of Staff, Joint Advanced Distributed Simulation Joint Test and Evaluation, Albuquerque, NM - a JT&E investigating the utility of advanced distributed simulation to test and evaluation. He has a Masters Degree in Operations Research from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Technology from Texas A&M University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the States of New Mexico and Virginia.
Course 2. Introduction to High Energy Laser Systems Classification: Unclassified Instructor: John Albertine, Consultant Duration: Half-day course, starts at 0800 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 3. Introduction to High Power Microwave Systems Classification: Unclassified Instructor: Mr. Al Kehs Duration: Half-day course, starts at 0800 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: R. Alan Kehs received the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and the M.S. and PhD degrees in Physics from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1970, 1973, 1984, and 1987 respectively. Dr. Kehs joined the Army's Harry Diamond laboratories in 1975 and his a recognized expert on the generation and use of intense relativistic electron beams for the production of high-power microwave radiation. Some of this major studies include the reflex diode as a source of both ion beams and High Power Microwaves (HPM) and the intense relativistic electron beam-driven backward wave oscillator as a source for HPM and as a pump for a free-electron laser. Recent assignments include Chief of the Directed Energy Branch and Chief of the Nuclear and High Power Microwave Technology Office. Dr. Kehs currently serves as a senior scientist in the Directed Energy and Power Generation Division at the Army Research Laboratory and also serves as the Army principal on several Directed Energy-related panels including the TARA Technical Panel on Directed Energy Weapons and the tri-service HPM technology steering group. Dr. Kehs is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, Sigma Xi, the Old Crows, the American Physical Society, the Society for Scientific Exploration, a Senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a member of the Board of Directors of the Directed Energy Professional Society.
Course 4. Beam Combining and Atmospheric Propagation of HELs for DE Applications Classification: Unclassified Instructor: Dr. Phillip Sprangle, Naval Research Laboratory Duration: Half-day course, starts at 0800 CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This course addresses two key aspects of high energy lasers (HEL) for directed energy weapons (DEW). The first is the HEL source configuration and the other deals with the physical processes that affect the propagation of the HEL beam in realistic atmospheres. There are a number of HEL configurations under development. These include solid-state, gas, free-electron and fiber lasers, among others. For DEW applications, 100’s kWs, CW power levels and multi-km propagation ranges are necessary. One approach to achieving the necessary power levels is to combine a large number of kW-class lasers. Efforts to combine fiber lasers coherently or spectrally have produced ~500 W of average power. A new configuration based on incoherent combining of high-power fiber lasers which can, in the near term, lead to a compact, robust, low-maintenance and long-lifetime, multi-kilowatt HEL system will be dicussed. An important advantage of incoherently combing fiber lasers is that phase locking or polarization control are not necessary. A conceptual design of an incoherently combined HEL system that can deliver 100 kW of CW power on a target of area 100 cm2 at a range of over 5 km is presented. This configuration is scalable to higher CW powers and longer ranges. The other objective of this course is to discuss the optimum laser wavelength and power for efficient propagation in various atmospheric environments, i.e., maritime, continental, urban, etc. The processes which contribute to laser beam spreading and intensity loss include: thermal blooming, turbulence, aerosol/molecular scattering and absorption, aerosol heating/vaporization, and laser beam quality effects. Aerosols, which consist of water, sea salt, organic matter, dust, soot, biomass smoke, urban pollutants, etc, are of particular importance because they result in laser scattering, absorption and enhanced thermal blooming. HELCAP (High Energy Laser Code for Atmospheric Propagation) is a fully 3-D, time dependent code that is suitable for studying and characterizing the atmospheric propagation of HEL beams. The course will also address issues of adaptive optics relevant to the propagation of high energy laser beams. Though it is a critical technology for any laser system, adaptive optics has both fundamental and technological limitations which will be discussed. Intended Audience: This course is intended to present an overview of the various physical processes which affect the propagation of HEL laser pulses in the atmosphere. Scientists, engineers and program managers will benefit from this course. Instructor Biography: Dr. Phillip Sprangle is Chief Scientist and Head of the Beam Physics Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics at Cornell University in 1973. His research areas include atmospheric laser propagation, free electron lasers, nonlinear optics and laser acceleration physics. Dr. Sprangle is a fellow of the American Physical Society, DEPS, and the IEEE. He is winner of the International Free Electron Laser Prize (1991), E.O. Hulburt Science and Engineering Award (1986) and Sigma Xi Pure Science Award (1994). Dr. Sprangle has published over 200 refereed scientific articles and holds 12 U.S. patents.
Course 5. Introduction to Turbulence Theory and Modeling for Optics Applications Classification: Unclassified Instructors: Dr. Tim Clark Duration: Half-day course, starts at 1300 CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: The course will cover the fundamental concepts of turbulence theory relevant to aero-optical applications. The starting point will be Kolmogorov's famous 1941 theory. The successes and limitations of the 1941 theory will be presented in the context of more recent theoretical developments. The course will present material relevant to both atmospheric turbulence and aerodynamic applications. The current state-of-the-art in both theory and computational approaches will be described. The goal of the course is to make the student a "smart consumer" of turbulence models and ideas. Intended Audience: Practicing engineers and physicists curious about turbulent aero-optical applications. Students do not need any prior knowledge of turbulence, only a willingness to learn. Instructor Biographies: Dr. Tim Clark has been involved in turbulence theory, simulation and modeling for nearly twenty years. He spent fifteen years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he was responsible for theory, high-fidelity simulation and modeling of turbulent mixing flows relevant to weapons applications. He has published numerous papers on these topics and given many presentations at international conferences and workshops. Dr. Clark is a fomer member of the Scientific Committee of the International Workshop on Compressible Turbulent Mixing and has served as lecturer at a Summer School at Cambridge University's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics on the topic of Advanced Scientific Computing.
Course 6. Interaction and Propagation of Ultrashort Laser Pulses Classification: Unclassified Instructors: Duration:Half-day course, starts at 1300 CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This course will describe several aspects of high peak power (> TW) ultra-short lasers with pulsewidths of ~ 100 fsec. The course is intended to provide detailed knowledge of this research area and its many potential applications. We present and discuss theoretical, computational, and experimental work on the propagation of ultra-short laser pulses. Experiments using terawatt pulses with durations less than a picosecond show long-distance propagation of plasma and optical filaments, broadband generation, and emission of sub-THz electromagnetic pulses. Subjects to be covered include: effects of ultra-short laser-material/air interaction, THz generation in plasmas, unique aspects of ultra-short laser propagation (such as self-focusing, spectral broadening, optical shocks, optical/plasma filaments), atmospheric turbulence, laser beam quality, rotational Raman scattering, the generation of guide stars using ultra-short pulse lasers and novel remote sensing applications. To study these processes, fully time-dependent, three-dimensional, nonlinear equations describing the propagation of laser pulses in air under the influence of diffraction, group velocity dispersion, Kerr nonlinearity, stimulated Raman scattering, ionization, and plasma wakefield excitation are presented. We will discuss the HELCAP simulation, a fully 3-D, time-dependent nonlinear atmospheric propagation code that includes these effects. The interaction of ultra-short laser pulses with dielectrics, the generation of THz radiation in plasmas using ultra-short pulses, guide star generation, and novel remote sensing techniques utilizing femtosecond Raman excitation of various chemical agents will be discussed in detail. Intended Audience: This course is intended to present an overview of the various physical processes associated with ultra-short pulse lasers. Scientists, engineers and program managers should benefit from this course. Instructor Biographies: Dr. Phillip Sprangle is Chief Scientist and Head of the Beam Physics Branch at the Naval Research Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. in Applied Physics at Cornell University in 1973. His research areas include atmospheric laser propagation, free electron lasers, nonlinear optics and laser acceleration physics. Dr. Sprangle is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the IEEE. He is winner of the International Free Electron Laser Prize (1991), E.O. Hulburt Science and Engineering Award (1986) and Sigma Xi Pure Science Award (1994). Dr. Sprangle has published over 200 refereed scientific articles and holds 12 U.S. patents. Dr. Joseph Peñano received his Ph.D. degree in plasma physics from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1998. He conducts research on atmospheric propagation of ultrashort, high-intensity laser pulses for directed energy weapons and electronic countermeasure applications and advanced radiation sources. He is the chief developer of HELCAP (High Energy Laser Code for Atmospheric Propagation). His work on high energy laser propagation and ultra-short laser pulses appeared in award winning articles in the 2003 and 2004 NRL Reviews. He received the NRL Alan Berman Publication Award in 2003.
Course 8. Introduction to Beam Control Classification: Unclassified Instructor: Dr. Paul Merritt, University of New Mexico Duration: Half-day course, starts at 1300 CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: The course is an overview of the technology and analysis needed to understand and design the beam control systems that accomplish acquisition, pointing, and tracking for a laser system. The system could be communications, imaging, or laser deposition, and the technology would still be very similar. The course also includes introductory lectures on control theory, as well as the performance equations that describe propagation of a laser beam to target. The attendees will be given the basic equations necessary to describe beam control system performance. The course will also include an introduction to adaptive optics beam control systems and a look at future beam control systems for fiber optics. Topics to be covered include:
Intended Audience: The students will obtain an overall understanding of the analysis needed to describe, design, and evaluate a beam control system. The course assumes that the attendee has a basic undergraduate level of engineering and mathematics. The solution of differential equations is used to describe the operation of control systems. Both technical persons and managers should benefit from the development and discussions regarding the operation of beam control systems. Technicians may find the course too analytical. The author has included references at the end of each section such that a student in the area may delve much deeper into the material if desired. No experience in the field is required; however, some experience will be helpful since the topics are covered rapidly. Instructor Biography: Dr. Merritt started working on laser systems in 1974 on the Airborne Laser Laboratory. Also in 1974, he received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico. He worked in civil service for several of the Kirtland laser organizations including the Weapons Laboratory, Phillips Laboratory, and Air Force Research Laboratory. His last civil service assignment was the Technical Advisor for the Airborne Laser Technology Division. He retired from the government in 1997 and went to work for Boeing-SVS in Albuquerque where he continued to analyze beam control systems. He was a Boeing Senior Technical Fellow. He retired from Boeing in 2003 and is now working for the University of New Mexico. He is teaching a controls class at the University and is a part time IPA with the Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland.
Course 9. Military Utility Analysis for DE Systems Classification: Secret Duration: Half-day course, starts at 1730 CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This course will provide an overview of military worth analysis for DE weapon systems. The course will include a description of four areas of systems engineering assessment that are brought together to form military worth analysis. These are: 1) weapon system concept performance trade studies, 2) target vulnerability assessment, 3) engagement-level system operational effectiveness assessment, and 4) wargaming and mission/campaign level analysis. Each of these areas will be covered during the short course, with emphasis on the elements that are drawn from each of these areas to support military worth analysis. The course will particularly emphasize methods for assessing system level effectiveness in the context of traditional weapon effectiveness tools such as the Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manuals (JMEMs) and for providing data on DE weapons effectiveness to mission and campaign level analysis tools and to models and simulations used to support wargaming. Topics to be covered include:
Intended Audience: This course is intended for those with a technical background who seek an understanding of military worth analysis and how it can be applied to support transition of DE weapon systems to the warfighter. Technical managers or professionals with experience in DE weapon systems or individuals who are beginning to work in the field would benefit from the class.
Course 10. Laser Lethality Classification: Secret Duration: Half-day course, starts at 1730 CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description: This course reviews laser material interactions over parameter ranges of interest for weapons applications. Fundamental considerations of the optical coupling of the laser energy into the material will be presented. This will be followed by physics-based treatments of the response of metals, organic-based materials, and ceramics to the laser irradiation.
Intended Audience: To best profit from the course, students should have a basic understanding of chemistry and physics at the college undergraduate level. Managers of technical programs as well as technical persons conducting or planning to conduct laser experiments will benefit from the course and should emerge from the experience with a broadened technical perspective. As a result of participating in this course, students should have a better understanding of the structure and composition of materials and how their properties determine the way in which high energy lasers (HEL) interact with and result in damage to these materials. Students will acquire an increased understanding of the mechanisms of interaction of various laser pulse forms and wavelengths with diverse types of materials.
Course 11. Directed Energy Bioeffects Classification: Secret Duration: Half-day course, starts at 1730 CEUs awarded: 0.35 Course Description and Topics: This course will introduce the basics of the biological effects of Directed Energy on cells, tissues, organisms, and humans, with particular emphasis on the influence of such effects on the development of use of Directed-Energy-Emitting technologies. The student will learn about the mechanisms, resulting damage, and mission impact of laser-tissue interaction. The student will learn what tissues are most susceptible to laser damage based on wavelength, exposure duration, and irradiance. The potential mission-impact of sub0-threshold, threshold, and suprathreshold exposures will be discussed. Student will understand the nature of RF bioeffects research, including human/animal studies, modeling and simulation, and biotechnology approaches. Students will become familiar with current state of knowledge on potential health effects RF, such as cancer, memory loss, and birth defects. Students will become familiar with basis and structure of current RF safety standards, comparison between competing standards, and how RF safety standards are applied. Students will be instructed on common RF measurement equipment and important factors for investigating potential RF overexposures. Topics to be covered include:
Intended Audience: Students should have a basic knowledge of electromagnetism, such as that gained from a bachelor’s program in science or engineering or on-the-job technical experience. Persons affected by RF or laser safety standards during the development, test, evaluation, and use of Directed-Energy-Emitting equipment will find the course particularly elucidating. Individuals involved in health, science, or weapons policy will also benefit from the plain language explanations of the technical subjects that are addressed in the course.
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