Quantitative laser safety analysis for application of high-energy lasers in a field test

Abstract

There is a variety of national and international standards for laser safety analysis requesting for risk reduction of hazards due to laser radiation. A lot of risks are already addressed by the standards. Thus appropriate evaluation methods for calculating dangerous radiation levels and measures for risk reduction are available for certain types of risks. However, when high energy lasers are applied in outdoor environments a variety of additional risks may arise. Due to high laser energy and varying outdoor environmental conditions, appearance and options of risks increase. Assuming that radiation can be held below certain Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE) levels anywhere in the unmonitored surrounding is impracticable when high energy lasers (HEL) are applied in outdoor environments. Therefore, an adjusted approach of methodology and appropriate materials, i.e. data and algorithms for risk assessment, is necessary.In the study reported here, we conduct a probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) focused on an application of HEL radiation in outdoor field tests. Thus we identify hazards within a particular field test environment and estimate the risks associated to these hazards using a probabilistic approach. The risks are assessed for being acceptable by probability of occurrence and severity. General risk management processes then demand that risks that exceed an acceptable level need to be reduced through appropriate risk reduction measure that either reduce the probability of occurrence or the consequences of an accident associated to that hazard. After having verified that all our recommended measures are implemented to a sufficient extend, field tests may be conducted.

Development of a radiometric sensor for the hazard assessment of scattered high-power laser radiation

“…The detection system is designed to fulfill specific requirements according to laser safety standards 11, 12 and potential use case scenarios in outdoor locations. 1 For outdoor laser operations, the detection system should be compact, robust, and mobile and the geographic position of the system should be known accurately. It is required that the detectors have a wide dynamic range to receive scattered laser radiation from atmospheric particles and solid/liquid targets.…”