The Free Electron Laser (FEL) can provide the naval surface combatant with a directed energy weapon that can be used against a large target set. Due to space constraints in a shipboard installation, an exploration is conducted to show the feasibility of short Rayleigh length FELs using a FEL simulation. Low atmosphere engagements are discussed through the modeling of a turbulence module for laser propagation in cruise missile defense applications. In particular, this thesis explores the difficulties in engaging a short/medium range theater ballistic missile (TBM) in the terminal phase as an engagement scenario in support of littoral operations using HELCoMES, developed by SAIC, as an engagement analysis tool. A concept of operations (CONOPS) for the use of a FEL as an area TBM defensive weapon is explored, using a unitary, high explosive warhead model and extrapolations to other TBM warhead types.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nps.edu/oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/1891 |
| Date | 06 1900 |
| Creators | Niles, Sean P. |
| Contributors | Colson, William, Armstead, Robert, Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)., Department of Physics |
| Publisher | Monterey California. Naval Postgraduate School |
| Source Sets | Naval Postgraduate School |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xvi, 100 p. : ill. (chiefly col.) ;, application/pdf |
| Rights | Approved for public release, distribution unlimited |
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