DE-STAR: Phased-array laser technology for planetary defense and other scientific purposes

Hughes, Gary B.; Lubin, P. M.; Bible, Johanna; Bublitz, Jesse; Arriola, Josh; Motta, Caio; Suen, Jonathan Y.; Johansson, Isabella; Riley, Jordan; Sarvian, Nilou; Wu, Jane; Milich, Andrew; Oleson, Mitch; Pryor, Mark

doi:10.1117/12.2026401

Cited by 25 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 38 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The flux on target (W∕m 2 ) at a fixed distance scales as the d 4 where d is the linear dimension of the array and thus it increases very rapidly with increased size. This system is useful for many other purposes, which are briefly mentioned in this article (and discussed in greater detail in other SPIE Optics & Photonics 2013 Proceedings papers, including Hughes et al 1 and Bible et al 2 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward directed energy planetary defense

et al. 2014

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Asteroids and comets that cross Earth's orbit pose a credible risk of impact, with potentially severe disturbances to Earth and society. We propose an orbital planetary defense system capable of heating the surface of potentially hazardous objects to the vaporization point as a feasible approach to impact risk mitigation. We call the system DE-STAR, for Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and exploRation. The DE-STAR is a modular-phased array of kilowatt class lasers powered by photovoltaic's. Modular design allows for incremental development, minimizing risk, and allowing for technological codevelopment. An orbiting structure would be developed in stages. The main objective of the DE-STAR is to use focused directed energy to raise the surface spot temperature to ∼3000 K, sufficient to vaporize all known substances. Ejection of evaporated material creates a large reaction force that would alter an asteroid's orbit. The baseline system is a DE-STAR 3 or 4 (1-to 10-km array) depending on the degree of protection desired. A DE-STAR 4 allows initial engagement beyond 1 AU with a spot temperature sufficient to completely evaporate up to 500-m diameter asteroids in 1 year. Small objects can be diverted with a DE-STAR 2 (100 m) while space debris is vaporized with a DE-STAR 1 (10 m).

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward directed energy planetary defense

et al. 2014

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Model results indicate a solid theoretical foundation supporting the proposed method. 3,10,21,22,23 The model suggests that vaporization commences within 1 second; the thermal profile stabilizes at a level consistent with the vaporization temperature of Silica in vacuum. Temperatures within the illuminated spot rise to the point of being mass ejection limited, which is ~2 250 K in the center of the spot.…”

Section: Composition Of Solar System Objectsmentioning

confidence: 73%

Stand-off molecular composition analysis

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Composition of distant stars can be explored by observing absorption spectra. Stars produce nearly blackbody radiation that passes through the cloud of vaporized material surrounding the star. Characteristic absorption lines are discernible with a spectrometer, and atomic composition is investigated by comparing spectral observations with known material profiles. Most objects in the solar system-asteroids, comets, planets, moons-are too cold to be interrogated in this manner. Material clouds around cold objects consist primarily of volatiles, so bulk composition cannot be probed. Additionally, low volatile density does not produce discernible absorption lines in the faint signal generated by cold objects. We propose a system for probing the molecular composition of cold solar system targets from a distant vantage. The concept utilizes a directed energy beam to melt and vaporize a spot on a distant target, such as from a spacecraft orbiting the object. With sufficient flux (~10 MW/m 2) on a rocky asteroid, the spot temperature rises rapidly to ~2500 K, and evaporation of all materials on the surface occurs. The melted spot creates a high-temperature blackbody source, and ejected material creates a molecular plume in front of the spot. Bulk composition is investigated by using a spectrometer to view the heated spot through the ejected material. Spatial composition maps could be created by scanning the surface. Applying the beam to a single spot continuously produces a borehole, and shallow sub-surface composition profiling is possible. Initial simulations of absorption profiles with laser heating show great promise for molecular composition analysis.

show abstract

“…It was not discussed in this paper, but DE-STAR also has the ability to perform a variety of other functions besides detection including deflection, vaporization and compositional analysis of NEOs. 6,7,8,910,11…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Directed energy active illumination for near-Earth object detection

Riley

Lubin

Hughes

et al. 2014

Nanophotonics and Macrophotonics for Space Environments VIII

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

On 15 February 2013, a previously unknown ~20 m asteroid struck Earth near Chelyabinsk, Russia, releasing kinetic energy equivalent to ~570 kt TNT. Detecting objects like the Chelyabinsk impactor that are orbiting near Earth is a difficult task, in part because such objects spend much of their own orbits in the direction of the Sun when viewed from Earth. Efforts aimed at protecting Earth from future impacts will rely heavily on continued discovery. Ground-based optical observatory networks and Earth-orbiting spacecraft with infrared sensors have dramatically increased the pace of discovery. Still, less than 5% of near-Earth objects (NEOs) 100 m/~100 Mt TNT have been identified, and the proportion of known objects decreases rapidly for smaller sizes. Low emissivity of some objects also makes detection by passive sensors difficult. A proposed orbiting laser phased array directed energy system could be used for active illumination of NEOs, enhancing discovery particularly for smaller and lower emissivity objects. Laser fiber amplifiers emit very narrow-band energy, simplifying detection. Results of simulated illumination scenarios are presented based on an orbiting emitter array with specified characteristics. Simulations indicate that return signals from small and low emissivity objects is strong enough to detect. The possibility for both directed and full sky blind surveys is discussed, and the resulting diameter and mass limits for objects in different observational scenarios. The ability to determine both position and speed of detected objects is also discussed.

show abstract

DE-STAR: Phased-array laser technology for planetary defense and other scientific purposes

Cited by 25 publications

References 38 publications

Toward directed energy planetary defense

Toward directed energy planetary defense

Stand-off molecular composition analysis

Directed energy active illumination for near-Earth object detection

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About