Page 330 - High Power Laser Handbook

298 So l i d - S t at e La s e r s Heat-Capacity Lasers 299

Figure 11.35 400-kW heat-capacity laser system on a mine-resistant,
ambush-protected vehicle.

the highly explosive material in the mine does not explode and instead
simply “sizzles” in place, thus further reducing the risk of human
exposure to material fragmentation and the resulting shrapnel.

11.6.4 Self-Contained 400-kW Heat-Capacity Laser on a
Military Vehicle
It is obvious that the HCL’s many attributes will lend themselves
to military applications. The heat-capacity laser, as described above,
can be scaled to very high powers while still maintaining a very
low weight and a compact footprint. In addition, due to its simple
laser architecture, it is extremely compatible with military require-
ments for being robust, reliable, and easy to maintain. Figure 11.35
shows an artist’s conception of a 400-kW heat-capacity laser system
on a mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) vehicle. The system,
as designed, is fully self-contained, including the laser, power
management system, thermal management system, beam director,
and computer control system. Initial targets could include rockets,
artillery, and mortars (RAMs), as well as improvised explosive
devices (IEDs).

11.7 Summary
The heat-capacity laser’s simple architecture, including the separation
of the lasing action from the cooling of the laser gain media, has demon-
strated that it can be used for practical applications. Key components,