Selfcritical nuclear pumped lasers are one of several possible nuclear pumped laser types currently being studied. This book showcases the most important results and stages of npl development in the russian federal nuclear center vniief as well as other russian and international laboratories, including laboratories in the united states. Practical, visible wavelength nuclear pumped laser volume 11 issue 3 y. A tokamak fusion reactor is provided for generating a long, or continuous, pulse of highenergy neutrons. The concept involved packing large numbers of expendable xray lasers around a nuclear device. A transport model for a transverse electron beampumped semiconductor laser has been developed. Nuclear pumping of lasers by fissionfragments from nuclear chain reactions is discussed. Nuclear pumped laser research at the jet propulsion laboratory russell, g.
How edward teller learned to love the nuclearpumped xray. Nuclearpumped lasers are lasers that are pumped by the products from nuclear reactions. Herwig proposed the concept of a nuclear pumped laser using nuclear reaction energy to pump laser media 1. We studied the possibility of developing a pulse reactor system for npl using lowenriched uranium. Nuclearpumped lasers and physical problems in constructing a reactorlaser 10 october 2007 quantum electronics, vol. Nuclearpumped lasers nasa technical reports server. Nuclear weapons programs took place parallel to civilian programs. The use of trade names or manufacturers names does not constitute endorsement, either expressed or implied, by the. Analysis of the uf6xe direct nuclearpumped laser aiaa. While this sort of weapon cannot be added to the game it would be an option for future space combat, so i though i would start a discussion on it. Pdf progress in nuclear pumped lasers researchgate. The lawrence livermore program to research nuclear pumped xray laser systems accelerated after president reagans star wars speech to introduce the strategic defense initiative sdi in 1983. Application of reactorpumped lasers to power beaming.
The paper describes a candidate nuclear pumped laser npl simulation system driven by modeling, which should provide the needed data for the emerging npl technology. A lasing medium is provided which is responsive to the energy source to generate a population inversion which is effective to support laser oscillations for generating output radiation. Early chapters look at the fundamental properties of lasers, nuclearpumping and nuclear reactions that may be used as drivers for nuclearpumped. Nuclear pumped laser simulation experiments nasaads.
Early chapters look at the fundamental properties of lasers, nuclearpumping and nuclear reactions that may be used as. Nasa is interested in nuclearpumped lasers primarily because of their potential applications to space power transmission and propulsion. The experimental setup representative of a nuclear pumped laser by a volume source of fission fragments consists of a tube filled with fissionable material and a lasing medium surrounded by a moderator and placed in a fastburst reactor, fig. How edward teller learned to love the nuclearpumped xray laser. Apparatus is provided for generating energy in the form of laser radiation. Practical, visible wavelength nuclearpumped laser volume 11 issue 3 y. For the past five years nasa has supported a nuclearpumped. Experiments are in the design phase for the use of gammarays to either directly pump high pressure laser mix.
Practical, visible wavelength nuclearpumped laser laser. Although there are several technical issues to be resolved, the power beaming. This document contains a synopsis of the talks and the figures presented at the workshop. Pdf nuclear pumped laser research at the university of. This type of if proven feasible offers the possibility of very high power operation in a continuous steadystate mode. Congress, office of technology assessment, otabpisc26, april 1984. Nuclearinduced plasmas of gas mixtures and nuclearpumped lasers. The process laser dye laser, in turn, provides the specific frequency light needed to photoionize u235 vapor in the avlis process. Nuclear pumped laser npl technology was a part of the strategic defense initiative sdi program lqwkh v v ha ve since fad ed from the united states research agenda but they remain an active part of the research agenda in other countries, notably in russia and other. Nuclearpumped laser npl technology was a part of the strategic defense initiative sdi program in the 1980s.
He has worked in the field of nuclear pumped lasers since his days as a graduate student. Transport model for a transverse electron beampumped. Nuclearpumped lasers mark a prelas bok 9783319198446. The objectives of experiments were to observe the laser oscillation and amplification. The feasibility of the xray laser pumped with a nuclear. The lasing medium is enclosed in a tube lined with uranium235 and subjected to high neutron flux in a nuclear reactor core. Pdf the field of nuclearpumpedlasersnpls has progressed in many directions since the discovery of the first npl in 1974. Full text of nuclearpumped lasers internet archive. This paper presents the analytic results of the lasing mechanisms of the 3henear nuclear pumped laser through numerical simulations and reactor experiments. The first one focused on the principle of nuclear pumped laser, and 4mw laser output power achieved. The nuclear pumped laser npl is a technology in which laser oscillation is accomplished using the energy of a nuclear reaction. Recent reports have indicated that an xray laser pumped with a nuclear explosion at a wavelength of 1. The second npl experiment focused on the small signal gain and the efficiency of the nuclear pumped hearxe.
This book covers the history of lasers with nuclear pumping nuclear pumped lasers, npls. Initial conceptual design study of selfcritical nuclear. A chart from this nasa report reads as a direct pumped nuclear reactor laser with 10% overall efficiency having a power density of about 500 wkg, brought down to 200 wkg when including radiators, shielding and other components. Nuclear power alone is not a stepping stone to weapon capability, but mastering of sensitive technologies such as the uranium enrichment is nuclear knowhow. Pdf nuclear pumped laser research at the university of missouri. Read nuclear pumped lasers by mark prelas available from rakuten kobo. The tokamak design provides a temperature and a magnetic field which is effective to generate a neutron flux of at least 10 15 neutronscm 2. Nuclearpumped lasers nasa technical reports server ntrs download pdf. The results of the two npl experiments in cfbrii reactor are described. Npls utilize energetic charged particles derived from nuclear reactions. Early chapters look at the fundamental properties of lasers.
Analysis of a nuclear pumped lasing mechanism for application. Pdf on the optimization of operating pressure for a nuclear. The fission fragments of the uranium create excited plasma with inverse population of energy levels, which then lases. Since high power and high efficiency lasers with short wavelengths require high pumping power densities, nuclear pumping is an extremely appealing method. Initial conceptual design study of selfcritical nuclear pumped. A nuclear pumped laser is a laser pumped with the energy of fission fragments. I was wondering if using ultralight nukes 100t yield would allow the weapon to fire multiple bursts before breaking. Library ofcongress catalog card number 84601052 for sale by the superintendent of documents u. The pulse shapes indicate that the deposition of nuclear energy is equally as effective as electrical. Nuclear energy pumping into active laser medium was first proposed with the appearance of first lasers 1, 2. Abstract the basic principle of direct energy conversion of nuclear energy into coherent radiation nuclearpumped laser or npl has been established by many experiments. The second npl experiment focused on the small signal gain and the efficiency of the nuclear pumped hearxe gas mixture at 1. Transport model for a transverse electron beampumped semiconductor laser 20 november 2019 laser and particle beams, vol. Osa the progress of nuclear pumped laser in cfbrii reactor.
A nuclear pumped laser capable of producing long pulses of very high power laser radiation is provided. A transport model for a transverse electron beam pumped semiconductor laser has been developed. This paper will describe a new concept for using nuclear reactors as the pumping source for lasers. Nasa is interested in nuclear pumped lasers primarily because of their potential applications to space power transmission and propulsion.
May 17, 2012 nuclear pumped lasers and physical problems in constructing a reactor laser 10 october 2007 quantum electronics, vol. Nuclear pumped lasers and the strategic defense initiative. Falcon is a highpower, steadystate, nuclear reactorpumped laser rpl concept that is being developed by the. Nuclearinduced plasmas of gas mixtures and nuclearpumped. A toroidal fusion reactor provides energetic neutrons which are slowed down by a moderator. The book goes on to explore the efficient transport of energy from the ionizing radiation to the laser medium and then the operational characteristics of existing nuclearpumped lasers. On the optimization of operating pressure for a nuclear pumped laser excited by 3hen, p 3h reaction products. Oct 03, 2012 transport model for a transverse electron beam pumped semiconductor laser 20 november 2019 laser and particle beams, vol. Nuclear pumped lasing experiments on fast burst reactor bars6. Project excalibur united states government nuclear. Nuclearpumped lasers books pics download new books.
The program consists of 1 a pulsed ion accelerator for measuring excitation cross sections, lifetimes, and quenching rates, and 2 a high density electron accelerator for the lasing experiments. How edward teller learned to love the nuclear pumped xray laser. A nuclearpumped laser npl research effort has been established at the university of missouricolumbia. Nuclear pumped laser modeling, nuclear volume and foil excitation of laser plasmas, proton beam simulations, nuclear flashlamp excitation, and reactor laser systems studies are covered. Nuclearpumped lasers books pics download new books and. Application of the newly developed lasers to spacecraft propulsion or. We briefly describe the basic processes of formation and relaxation of nuclearinduced plasmas of gas mixtures, especially the processes of inverse population creation in nuclearpumped lasers npl. The ignition unit is a compact multicore pulsed fast neutron reactor. Sale of electricity produced by combined plant offsets the high capital cost required for the laser system. Project excalibur united states government nuclear weapons. This book covers the history of lasers with nuclear pumping nuclear pumped. Ndyag converts electrical energy into light energy, which energy pumps, the avlis process laser. The model incorporates spatial dependencies of the power deposition from the beam as well as a threedimensional model of the gain medium and the field intensity of the photons produced by stimulated emission in the oscillation cavity.
Skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. It has been proposed to extend the development of this device to establish it as part of a layered ballistic missile defensive system to protect the united states against a nuclear attack. Using a partially nuclear excited xenon flashlamp to pump an iodine laser, laser pulse shapes were analyzed with and without nuclear flashlamp augmentation. Herwig proposed the nuclear pumped laser, based on the idea that the ions produced from nuclear reactions can be used as a driver for the laser medium. The book goes on to explore the efficient transport of energy from the ionizing radiation to the laser medium and then the operational characteristics of existing nuclear pumped lasers. About 70% of the energy of a nuclear device exploded in space appears in the form of. Pulse reactor system for nuclearpumped laser using low. Analysis of high powerenergy nuclear pumped laserreactor. Nuclear pumped laser research at the jet propulsion. One of the more interesting weapons is the nuclear pumped laser. Early chapters look at the fundamental properties of lasers, nuclearpumping and nuclear reactions that may be used as drivers for nuclearpumped lasers. Nuclearpumped lasers ebook by mark prelas rakuten kobo. Project excalibur was a lawrence livermore national laboratory llnl cold warera research program to develop an xray laser as a ballistic missile defense bmd for the united states. Directed energy missile defense in spacea background paperwashington, d.
Pdf nuclearpumped lasers npls directly convert the charged particle energy from nuclear reactions into coherent light energy. This system concept utilized thin uranium or uranium oxide foils as fissionable material. Introduction a seriesof experiments are proposedto investigate the performance of a fissionfragmentexcited co laserwhich utilizs gas dynamic. Early chapters look at the fundamental properties of lasers, nuclear pumping and nuclear reactions that may be used as drivers for nuclear pumped lasers. A nuclear pumped laser npl research effort has been established at the university of missouricolumbia.
Analysis of the uf6xe direct nuclearpumped laser aiaa journal. The energy source typically comprises fission fragments, alpha particles, and radiation from a fission event. This paper will discuss the following aspects on the. The moderated neutrons are converted to energetic particles capable of pumping a lasing medium. Nuclear pumped lasing experiments on fast burst reactor. Selfcritical nuclear pumped laser concepts may use fissionable material in solid, liquid, or gaseous form. Pdf on the optimization of operating pressure for a. Nuclear pumped laser npl technology was a part of the strategic defense initiative sdi program lqwkh v v ha ve since fad ed from the united states research agenda but they remain an active part of the research agenda in other countries, notably in russia and other nations in the former soviet union as well as china 1 which has a. Nuclear pumped lasers have unique advantages for space applications, since they can combine the power source and the laser in a single compact unit. We briefly describe the basic processes of formation and relaxation of nuclear induced plasmas of gas mixtures, especially the processes of inverse population creation in nuclear pumped lasers npl.
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