Short Courses
The following short courses were offered in-person on Monday, 25 April in conjunction with the
2022 Annual Directed Energy Science & Technology Symposium.
Course 1. Introduction to High Energy Laser Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Open Public Release (Dist A)
Instructor: Matthew Leigh, DE JTO
Duration: Half-day course, 0800 to 1200
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
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: Matthew Leigh earned his BS in Physics from Brigham Young University. He earned his PhD in Physics at the University of Arizona, and his dissertation work was on pulsed fiber lasers under the direction of Dr. Nasser
Peyghambarian. He worked at Spectra-Physics, NP Photonics, and
Envisioneering before entering government service. He helped out with a
number of projects at NSWC-DD, including the LaWS program. He was selected
to serve as the Navy Science and Technology Representative at the High
Energy Laser Joint Technology Office where he has been overseeing the
university Multidisciplinary Research Initiative program and the Atmospheric
Propagation TAWG.
Course 2. Introduction to High Power Microwave Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor:
- Samuel Gutierrez, Gryphon Technologies
- Sterling Beeson, AFRL
Duration: Half-day course, 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
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 five parts: 1) a general introduction to the basic terms
and concepts, 2) prime power and pulsed power systems needed to drive HPM devices, 3) HPM sources to include concepts
and examples, 4) HPM narrowband and wideband antennas, and 5) design and fabrication of HPM systems.
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 to design and develop HPM subsystems to include the fundamental
concepts through the practical construction of such systems (science and engineering). 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 examples of HPM systems
developed in the recent years. Topics to be covered include:
- Definitions, motivation, notional concepts
- Technology - Power Sources and Power Conditioning, Microwave Oscillators, Antennas, Diagnostics
- System level design for multiple application
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 Biographies:
Sam Gutierrez has over 30 years of experience in directing and performing RDT&E programs. He has worked extensively in
Simulation, Effects, Test, and Prototyping of both HPM and High Energy Laser systems. He has had assignments in HPM, Optics,
HPC, Test, and as Staff Specialist for DEW at the ASD/R&E. He is currently a Principal Engineer and Program Manager in the
AFRL/RD HPM division. He holds an MSEE from the New Mexico State University, a BSEE from the University of New Mexico,
DAU level 3 Ratings in SE and S&T management, and FAA Pilot ratings in airplane and rotary wing aircraft.
Sterling Beeson is currently a Research Electronics Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM, USA. He works in the Directed Energy Directorate under the High Power Electromagnetic Division where he conducts research on HPEM sources and systems. He received a BS in Applied Physics from Angelo State University and a MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University for his work on pulsed RF generated plasmas with an emphasis on pulsed power, low temperature plasma physics, and microwave engineering.
Course 3. Windows and Coatings for HEL Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Open Public Release (Dist A)
Instructor: Bill Decker
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
Course Description:
Windows - issues and solutions
- How are these windows different?
- What are the options for materials?
- What are the performance specs that are important to DE?
- Optical polishing technology - current state of the art
Coatings
- Why are they still a problem?
- Where can I get the work done?
Intended Audience: All with a desire to learn about optical materials and high performance coatings. A background in optics is not
required, but will enhance a student's experience. No formal training is required.
Instructor Biography: Mr. Decker served twenty years in the US Army, including assignments as a Physics Instructor at the US Military
Academy and as Research and Development Coordinator at the Army's Night Vision and Electro-Optics Laboratory. Since his retirement, he has held
management positions at ITT Night Vision, the University of Texas Applied Research Laboratory and at L-3 Brashear. He recently retired as the
Director, Technology Transition Center of Excellence at the Defense Acquisition University, where he also taught engineering and science and
technology management courses. Mr. Decker is a graduate of Cornell University and the Naval Postgraduate School.
Course 4. Laser Weapon System Thermal Management
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution D
Instructors:
- Dr. Sean Ross, AFRL/RDMP
- J. Dana Teague
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
Course Description: High Energy Lasers obey the laws of thermodynamics...Just like everything else! Come and learn the reasons why the laser subsystem might only occupy 15% of the size and weight of a laser weapon system but drives the size and weight of two-thirds of the system size and weight. We will cover basic heat transfer mechanisms and the "tools in the toolbox" available to the laser designer and the principles of laser-thermal co-design necessary for any application in a size and weight constrained environment.
Intended Audience: Intended audience is anyone involved in laser subsystem or laser weapon system design or development. There will be limited algebraic mathematics so the course will be friendly to both technical and non-technical attendees.
Instructor Biography: TBD
Course 5. Introduction to High Power Semiconductor Lasers for DE Applications
Classification: Unclassified, Open Public Release (Dist A)
Instructor: Dr. Paul Leisher, Freedom Photonics
Duration: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
Course Description: This short course will cover a broad range of topics related to semiconductor laser pump sources for directed energy applications. This half-day course is aimed at consumers of semiconductor lasers who wish to learn more about the technology behind these devices. A broad range of introductory topics are covered including theory, design, growth, fabrication, characterization, and packaging. Advanced topics including facet passivation technology, optical design approaches for high efficiency fiber coupling, and approaches for wavelength stabilization are also presented.
List of Topics:
- Phenomenological treatment of the theory of semiconductor laser operation
- Overview of the fabrication of high power semiconductor lasers
- Electrical, optical, and thermal characteristics of diode lasers
- Design of high power semiconductor lasers: thermal management and efficiency
- Reliability of diode lasers including failure modes and facet passivation technology
- Spatial brightness and fiber coupling
- Spectral brightness and wavelength stabilization
Intended Audience: This course is aimed primarily at users of semiconductor laser pump sources who wish to learn more about the technology behind these devices. Much of the course will be spent addressing practical aspects (both technical and business) of diode lasers, and as such, engineers and managers alike are expected to benefit. A basic undergraduate education in science or engineering is assumed.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Leisher holds concurrent titles of Fellow at Luminar Technologies Inc. in Orlando, FL and Vice President of Research for Freedom Photonics (a Luminar company) in Santa Barbara, CA. His current roles are focused on the technical and business development of the world's highest brightness laser diodes. Prior to joining Luminar/Freedom, Dr. Leisher was Chief Engineer for Diode Lasers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, CA) where he served as the principal subject matter expert for high power diode laser technology. From 2011-2017, Dr. Leisher served as Associate Professor of Physics and Optical Engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (Terre Haute, Indiana) and as the Manager of Advanced Technology at nLight Corporation (Vancouver, Washington) from 2007-2011. He received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Bradley University (Peoria, Illinois) in 2002, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 and 2007, respectively.
Dr. Leisher's research interests include the design, fabrication, characterization, and analysis of high power semiconductor lasers and other photonic devices. He has served as Principal Investigator / Principal Business Official on over $21.7M in research programs to date. He has authored over 260 technical patents, journal articles, and conference presentations. Dr. Leisher serves on the technical committee of many conferences. He is the co-chair of the SPIE Components and Packaging for Laser Systems Conference, the program track chair for the SPIE LASE Symposium Nonlinear Optics and Beam Guiding conferences, and the program chair of the International Semiconductor Laser Conference (ISLC). Dr. Leisher is a senior member of both SPIE and IEEE.
Course 6. Atmospheric Laser Propagation
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructors:
- Steven Fiorino, AFIT
- Jaclyn Schmidt, AFIT
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
Course Description: This course addresses how to characterize and quantify the major effects of the atmosphere on directed energy weapons propagation. A first principles atmospheric propagation and characterization code called the Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference (LEEDR) is described and demonstrated. LEEDR enables the creation of climatologically- or numerical weather prediction (NWP)-derived vertical profiles of temperature, pressure, water vapor content, optical turbulence, and atmospheric particulates and hydrometeors as they relate to line-by-line or band-averaged layer extinction coefficient magnitude at any wavelength from 200 nm to 8.6 m. Applying those atmospheric effects to High Energy Lasers (HELs) is addresses by introducing and demonstrating a high-fidelity scaling-law HEL propagation coded called the High Energy Laser End-to-End Operational Simulation HELEEOS. The course outline is as follows:
- Intro to atmospheric structure and constituents
- Atmospheric boundary layer
- Atmospheric radiative / propagation effects
- Optical turbulence, scintillation
- Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference (LEEDR)
- HEL thermal blooming effects in the atmosphere
- Optics, beam control: turbulence / thermal blooming compensation
- Coherent beam combining
- High Energy Laser End to End Operational Simulation (HELEEOS)
Intended Audience: US Government personnel and their direct contractors who have program requirements for or are interested in methods and tools to assess realistic environments and environmental effects for HEL modeling and simulation, HEL mission planning, and/or military systems operations. The course assumes the students have some technical background in radiative transfer through the atmosphere--either via an undergraduate degree or career experience.
Instructor Biographies:
Steven T. Fiorino received his BS degrees in geography and meteorology from Ohio State (1987) and Florida State (1989) universities. He additionally holds an MS in atmospheric dynamics from Ohio State (1993) and a PhD in physical meteorology from Florida State (2002). He is a retired USAF Lt Col who is currently a Professor of Atmospheric Physics within the Engineering Physics Department at AFIT and is the Director of the AFIT Center for Directed Energy. His research interests include microwave remote sensing, development of weather signal processing algorithms, and atmospheric effects on military systems such as high-energy lasers and weapons of mass destruction. Dr. Fiorino is a member of SPIE, AMS, AIAA, OSA, and DEPS.
Jaclyn E. Schmidt received her BS degree in meteorology (2010) from the University of South Alabama, and her professional career is rooted in atmospheric and oceanographic data analysis for DoD and military service support, including NOAA's National Data Buoy Center and the Naval Oceanographic Office. She is currently the Laser Environmental Effects Definition and Reference (LEEDR) POC for the Center for Directed Energy (CDE) at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). Her research interests include numerical weather modeling, aerosol effects on radiative transfer, and enhancements to modeling and simulations tools as they relate to the directed energy and intelligence communities. She is a member of DEPS and AMS.
Course 7. High Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons and Their Effects
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor: John Tatum, SURVICE Engineering Company
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
Course Description:
This course is an introductory course to High Power Radio Frequency/Microwave (HPM) Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) and their effects. The course will cover what HPM weapons are, the type of weapons - Narrowband and Wideband, how the weapons are like, but different from traditional Electronic Warfare (EW) and Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), how the HPM energy couples in to a target's electronics and their effects. The course will also cover some of the basic modeling and simulation tools for computing/estimating the probability of target failure as a function of weapon power density and range. Finally, we will show an example of how to determine hardening requirements for a notional helicopter against an HPM weapon.
Some topics include:
- What are HPM DEW weapons?
- Why Does the Warfighter Care About HPM DEWs?
- What are the Types of HPM DEWs?
- How are HPM DEWs similar to EW and EMP, but different?
- How Does HPM DEW energy couple into a target?
- What are the Effects of HPM DEW?
- How can we Compute/Estimate the HPM DEW Level Required to Produce System Failure?
- How can we Protect our Systems Against HPM DEW Environments?
Intended Audience: This course is intended for those individuals that are looking for an introduction to High Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons and their effects on target systems. The course assumes that the student has some science/engineering background and understands some Radio Frequency/Microwave theory and techniques.
Instructor Biography:
John T. Tatum is an electronic system's engineer with over 44 years of experience in Radar, Electronic Warfare (EW), Electromagnetic (EM) Effects and Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) and their effects. Mr. Tatum now works for the SURVICE Engineering Company as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) EW and Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RF DEWs) and their effects. He also acts as a SME for the Defense Systems Information Analysis Center (DSIAC) and provides information on RF DEW technology and effects.
Before SURVICE, he worked for the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in Adelphi, Md. {formerly Harry Diamond Laboratories (HDL)} in ARL's RF Electronics Division for almost 37 years, where he directed and participated in High Power RF/Microwave (HPM) effects investigations on military systems and supporting infrastructure. Mr. Tatum also investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of RF DEW concepts for various Army applications. Mr. Tatum was the Army chairman of the RF DE Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual (JMEM) Working Group and chaired RF Effects Panel for the OSD Technology Panel on DEW. He is a fellow of the Directed Energy Professional Society (DEPS) and has published several papers on RF susceptibility assessments, system effects investigations and effects data bases in both DoD and IEEE conferences. In his spare time, Mr. Tatum is a volunteer teacher for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to elementary, middle and high school students.
Course 8. Introduction to Pulse Lasers: Interactions, Propagation, and Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor: Dr. Michael Helle, Naval Research Laboratory
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
Course Description: This course provides a general overview of pulsed lasers with an emphasis on how they interact with materials as well as the physics that govern propagation. The course will cover nanosecond through femtosecond pulsed lasers with particular attention placed on Ultrashort Pulse Lasers (USPL) that operate from a few picoseconds to femtoseconds. The lecture will focus on theoretical, computational, and experimental results to provide attendees insight into the various nonlinear mechanisms that differentiate high intensity laser pulses from traditional laser sources. The course will include an introduction to pulsed laser architecture, a survey of source technologies, and recent developments with an aim towards system ruggedization. The course will end with a discussion of new applications that may be enabled by near-term and next-generation systems.
Topics to be covered in this course include:
- Pulse laser sources
- Material interactions
- Hydrodynamics
- Wave optics
- Nonlinear optics
- Plasma physics
- Beam propagation
- Turbulence
Intended Audience: This course is intended for those individuals that are looking for an introduction to pulse laser physics, systems, and potential applications. The course assumes that the student has some science/engineering background and has some understanding of optics theory and techniques.
Instructor Biography:
Dr. Michael Helle is head of the Laser Propagation and Effects Section within the Plasma Physics Division at the Naval Research Laboratory. He received his B.S. in Mathematical Physics from Case Western Reserve in 2005, and his Ph.D. in Physics from Georgetown University in 2010. For his dissertation work, he was awarded the Harold N. Glassman Dissertation Award. He joined NRL in 2010 upon graduation. His current interests include experimental and numerical research in the areas of intense laser propagation and interaction effects, nonlinear optics, novel laser sources, and advanced beam control. He has over 50 scientific publications, 6 US patents, and is a 4 time NRL Alan Berman Publication awardee.
Course 9. Artificial Intelligence for DE Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Open Public Release (Dist A)
Instructor: Sandra Biedron, Element Aero, NSF Center for Bright Beams, and the University of New Mexico
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
Course Description: This short course will introduce the attendees to concepts of artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning (ML), which is the most frequently used application of AI and data science. ML is interdisciplinary field, pooling computer science, statistics, physics, pattern recognition, and neuroscience. We will also discuss the enablers of AI and ML, such as the high-performance computing (HPC) and computing facilities. We will briefly discuss applications and examples of AI and ML (including deep learning - DL): concepts, terminology, and application areas.
Our application focus is for science, technology, and engineering (STE) for assistance in the design, operations, prediction of failures, and control of systems including for directed energy systems. We will provide examples for several cases, including, laser systems, RF systems, e-beam driven systems, and a quantum information system. We will also discuss some of the recent federal reports and other policy to which users of AI/ML should be familiar.
Intended Audience: This course has relevance to those in STE, program managers, including those in acquisition.
Instructor Biography: Sandra Biedron has been serving as the Managing Member of
a research and development company Element Aero, since 2002. She also serves as is currently a Research Professor of electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering with the College of Engineering, the University of New Mexico (UNM), to mentor students. She served as Deputy Lead Engineer for the integration and test of an Innovative Naval Prototype for Boeing. Previously, in her 20 year career at Argonne National Laboratory, served as the Department of Defense Project Office Director and as a Senior Physicist, as well as an Associate Director of the Argonne Accelerator Institute. She served as a Technical and Management Consultant on the successful FERMI free-electron laser project with the Sincrotrone Trieste. She has myriad archival and conference papers and technical documents, and holds two U.S. patents and an international trademark. She recently served as the Co-Lead for the Department of Energy's report Basic Research Needs for Compact Accelerators for Security and Medicine for the Computing, Controls and Design Technical Group.
Her interests are many and include
particle accelerator systems; laser systems; the use of artifcial intelligence in controls, modeling, and prediction of complex systems; sensors and detectors; and applications of these technologies in science, security, and defense. She is a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and SPIE, a Senior Member of the Optical Society of America (OSA), and a member
of the Italian Optical Society (SIOF). In 2010, she was presented a Letter of Commendation by the Chief of Naval Research for her technical efforts. In 2018, she received the IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society's Particle Accelerator Science and Technology Award. She also serves as a technical reviewer on projects worldwide, including as the Chair for the Program Advisory Committee (APAC) of the Brookhaven National Laboratory's Accelerator Test Facility (ATF). She also serves as the Director of Knowledge Transfer for the National Science Foundation's Center for Bright Beams, Cornell University, and an Advisor for the Associate Laboratory Directorship for Physical Sciences at Los Alamos National Laboratory on accelerator science, technology, and engineering, and next generation x-ray light sources for national security applications. Furthermore, she served on a NATO Panel for sensors and electronics.
Course 10. Directed Energy Systems Engineering
Classification: Unclassified, Open Public Release (Dist A)
Instructors:
- Dan A. Isbell, USAF, Retired - NCE Inc.
- Robert M. Newton, USAF, Retired - NCE Inc.
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 2 CLPs
Course Description: This introductory course is designed to provide an appreciation of Systems Engineering in the pursuit of the Directed Energy (DE) Weapons revolution. After many decades of Research & Development, emerging DE weapons systems must navigate the technology's "valley of death" through thoughtful application of Systems Engineering principles to successfully field new warfighter capabilities.
The course will introduce the principles of Systems Engineering, define DE's High Energy Lasers (HEL) and High-Power Microwave (HPM) Systems, then review DoD guidance and tools in the context of the warfighters' missions. Conceptual HEL/HPM applications will provide instantiation examples and enable interactive discussions.
At the end of the course, attendees will be better able to craft their programs to leverage proven DoD SE processes and effectively integrate into existing and future DoD weapons systems/networks. The course will cover the Systems Engineering Process throughout the Lifecycle.
Topics to be covered in this course include:
- The Big Picture/Overview
- DE Weapon Systems Definitions: HEL & HPM
- Military Requirements and User Interactions
- DoD SE Guides to include Mission Engineering (ME), Digital Engineering, System-of-Systems (SoS), Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), Software Engineering (SWE), and The Software Acquisition Pathway
- Systems Architecture and its application to DE Systems
- Tools to Enable Engineering Success: Modeling & Simulation (M&S) and How M&S supports DoD Processes
- Testing as an Integral Part of SE: the Different Types of Test & Evaluation (T&E)
- SE for High Energy Laser Weapon System Integration and T&E
- SE for HPM Weapon Systems and T&E
Intended Audience: This course is open to the public and requires no specific background as it is general in nature, but rich in helping to understand the fundamental concepts of DE Weapon Systems and how to apply System Engineering processes.
Instructor Biographies: Dan Isbell brings a broad range of expertise and experience to the defense and technology industry with his 27 years of service in the US Air Force. His insight comes from an educational background that includes a Master's degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University, a Master's degree in Human Resource Management from Troy State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. During his Air Force career he also completed flight school, test pilot school, Senior Acquisition Manager's course, Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the professional military service schools.
Dan's formal education and training founded his broad experience in aircraft and weapons airworthiness certification and program management, business development and integration, technology and engineering, fighter aircraft and special operations. His positions include Chief, F-16 Systems Program Office, Commander of 514th Flight Test Squadron, Operations Research Systems Analyst for Assistant Secretary of Defense for Program Analysis & Evaluation, Air Vehicle Program Manager for F/A-22 Systems Program Office, Chief of Weapon System Sector and Technology Integration Lead for Battlefield Air Operations Kit National Team.
Bob Newton is an advanced systems developer with nearly 20-year DE experience. Currently he leads a defense technology company in applying his over 35-years of US Air Force and commercial industry experience. Beginning with a technical education in Aerospace Engineering from The Ohio State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, his mission perspective comes from F-16 fighter and special operations. He is an acquisition professional and test pilot with over 4500 hours in over 60 types of aircraft. His specific acquisition related responsibilities involved F-16 performance / flying qualities / avionics / sensors / weapons flight test and airworthiness certification, F-22 program management, Air Force Material Command headquarters, Pentagon Air Staff, and industry. He has commanded flying units and is a veteran of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM.
Last updated: 16 January 2022
