Astronomers help create super weapons for military
The American company "Boeing" began work on the next phase of designing the main part of the laser aviation guns - by creating a high-power adaptive optical system.
The management of "Boeing" signed an agreement with the management of the US military "HEL-JTO", which is developing a laser gun "HEL TD". It is planned that during the 15 months, an adaptive optical system for a high-energy laser tactical gun will be put into operation and tested. As for the details of this agreement, they are classified. But characteristically, adaptive optics in compact tactical lasers have never been used. Its potential has not yet been fully explored, but it can significantly increase the effectiveness of shooting in bad weather conditions.
Initially, adaptive optics was developed for use in telescopes. Astronomers needed a device capable of correcting blurry images and providing a clear image even when distorted by wind, heat fluxes, or other astronomical objects.
The use of adaptive optics can significantly reduce the size of modern tactical lasers
For example, the adaptive optics system in telescopes “Keck” is a 15-cm mirror, which is able to change its curvature values to 670 once a second. This contributes to leveling the distortions that the environment introduces. The adaptive laser optics will work in the same way. weapons: it will eliminate interference in the atmosphere to accurately hit the target with the most complete amount of laser energy. The system itself must be light and compact, capable of increasing the range and accuracy of laser shooting without significantly increasing the strength of its beam.
During the development of adaptive optics for a high-power laser beam, designers had to use high-tech components, sensitive sensors and ultra-fast calculators that can measure the parameters of the surrounding space and deform the laser mirror accordingly.
Most recently, the company "Boeing" the first stage of creating a system of adaptive optics completed. This stage included the processes of design, construction and testing in the laboratory. According to the new contract, for the first time the company will test adaptive optics with a high-energy laser “HEL TD”, which currently remains the main project related to the creation of laser weapons for the American army.
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