Analysis and Calculations of Laser Damage Threshold for Optical Components Soft Damage

Abstract

Laser Weapons destruction capabilities are classified into hard and soft destruction. In this paper laser soft damage of an IR seeker was studied and CW laser power required for damaging (disturbing) a commercial CCD camera at different distance was calculated. An existing Cw Nd-YAG 130 W solid state laser source was enhanced and used to damage a CCD camera at 2 km, enhancement was performed in terms of power threshold, radiation transfer efficiency, beam overlap efficiency, and partial mirror reflectivity. A study of generation of 135 W output power from a Cw end pumping master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) Nd doped double clad fiber laser was done to achieve the goal of disturbing a CCD camera. Finally Optimization of laser output power was performed to fulfill the required laser power level that is needed to disturb or damage a CCD camera.