Method and system for neutralization of buried mines

• US 20040200341A1
• Filed: 03/12/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LSP Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LSP Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Dulaney, Jeff L., Sokol, David W., Walters, Craig T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,752,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/12 Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/32 Decoy or sacrificial vehicles; Decoy or sacrificial devices attachable to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0062 causing structural damage to the target

Abstract

A system for neutralizing a buried mine includes a laser that is configured to generate laser energy that communicates through the covering ground material and accesses the mine in a manner sufficient to neutralize the mine. Neutralization can occur by deflagration or detonation. The laser includes a solid-state lasing medium that is run substantially uncooled during the lasing run. Namely, the lasing medium is operated without cooling until the lasing medium reaches a temperature where thermal population in a lower laser level begins to significantly lower inversion density. Following completion of the lasing run, the lasing medium is cooled at a rate limited only by a thermal stress fracture level of the lasing medium. Operation of the laser in this manner permits the laser to deliver high-irradiance, high-repetition rate pulses according to a burst mode operation that successfully accomplishes neutralization in a desired time period. The burst mode also facilitates preferential selection of the mechanism of laser energy-material interaction to promote rapid penetration rates.

Claims

1. A method for use in neutralizing a mine disposed at a location, the mine being buried at least in part with material thereabout, said method comprising the steps of:

generating laser energy; and

the laser energy penetrating to the mine through said material to operably neutralize the mine.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

running a solid-state lasing medium substantially uncooled during a lasing run.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

operating a lasing medium substantially without cooling thereof until the lasing medium reaches a temperature where thermal population in a lower laser level begins to significantly lower inversion density.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, further includes the step of:

cooling the lasing medium at a rate limited only by a thermal stress fracture level of the lasing medium, following cessation of operation of the lasing medium.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

operating a laser in a repetitive pulsing operation.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

operating a laser in a burst mode of operation.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further includes the step of:

selecting parameters for configuring and operating the laser, the parameters relating to at least one of lasing wavelength, energy per laser pulse, pulse duration and/or width, pulse repetition rate, average power, burst run time, and spot size.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

generating pulses of laser energy.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

generating a burst of laser energy.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring the laser energy generation so that penetration of the laser energy through said material occurs with an interaction between the laser energy and the material exhibiting a displacement of the material in a predominantly solid state.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring the laser energy generation so that penetration of the laser energy through said material occurring predominantly without vaporization of the material.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring the laser energy generation so that penetration of the laser energy through said material occurs with an interaction between the laser energy and the material predominantly exhibiting non-vaporization of the material.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, further includes:

selecting parameters for the laser energy generation operation sufficient to facilitate the predominantly non-vaporizing interaction between the laser energy and the material.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further includes the steps of:

determining at least one of material type, material condition, and depth of burial in furtherance of the parameter selection operation and/or selecting at least one of standoff distance and angle of inclination for a laser beam from the laser energy generation operation.

15. A method for use in neutralizing a mine disposed at a location, the mine being buried at least in part with material thereabout, said method comprising the steps of:

operating a lasing medium substantially without cooling thereof until the lasing medium reaches a temperature where thermal population in a lower laser level begins to significantly lower inversion density; and

directing energy generated by operation of the lasing medium in a manner aiming to access the mine;

the uncooled operation of the lasing medium defining a firing run thereof delivering energy sufficient to penetrate through the material to the mine and to neutralize the mine.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further includes the step of:

cooling the lasing medium at a rate limited only by a thermal stress fracture level of the lasing medium, following cessation of operation of the lasing medium.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the operating step further includes the step of:

operating the lasing medium in a repetitive pulsing operation.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the operating step further includes the step of:

operating the lasing medium in a burst mode of operation.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring operation of the lasing medium so that penetration of the material by energy from the lasing medium occurs with an interaction between the energy and the material exhibiting a displacement of the material in a predominantly solid state.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, further includes the step of:

p1 selectably configuring operation of the lasing medium so that penetration of the material by energy from the lasing medium occurring predominantly without vaporization of the material.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring operation of the lasing medium so that penetration of the material by energy from the lasing medium occurs with an interaction between the energy and the material predominantly exhibiting non-vaporization of the material.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the operating step further includes the step of:

operating a neodymium glass rod lasing medium.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further includes the step of:

flashlamp pumping the neodymium glass rod lasing medium.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, further includes the step of:

diode pumping the neodymium glass rod lasing medium.

25. A method for use in neutralizing a mine disposed at a location, the mine being buried at least in part with material thereabout, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a laser system; and

operating the laser system so that laser energy therefrom penetrates through the material and irradiates the mine to neutralize the mine.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the operating step further includes the step of:

running a solid-state lasing medium substantially uncooled during a lasing run.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the operating step further includes the step of:

operating a lasing medium substantially without cooling thereof until the lasing medium reaches a temperature where thermal population in a lower laser level begins to significantly lower inversion density.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, further includes the step of:

cooling the lasing medium at a rate limited only by a thermal stress fracture level of the lasing medium, following cessation of operation of the lasing medium.

29. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the operating step further includes the step of:

operating a laser in a burst mode of operation.

30. The method as recited in claim 25, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring operation of the laser system so that laser energy penetration of said material occurs with an interaction between the laser energy and the material exhibiting a displacement of the material in a predominantly solid state.

31. The method as recited in claim 25, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring operation of the laser system so that laser energy penetration of said material occurring predominantly without vaporization of the material.

32. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the operating step further includes the step of:

operating a neodymium glass rod lasing medium in a burst mode.

33. A method for use in neutralizing a mine disposed at a location, the mine being buried at least in part with material thereabout, said method comprising the steps of:

generating laser energy; and

causing the laser energy to access the mine via the material and neutralize the mine.

34. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

running a solid-state lasing medium substantially uncooled during a lasing run.

35. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

operating a lasing medium substantially without cooling thereof until the lasing medium reaches a temperature where thermal population in a lower laser level begins to significantly lower inversion density.

36. The method as recited in claim 35, further includes the step of:

cooling the lasing medium at a rate limited only by a thermal stress fracture level of the lasing medium, following cessation of operation of the lasing medium.

37. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

operating a laser in a burst mode of operation.

38. The method as recited in claim 33, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

generating a burst of laser energy.

39. The method as recited in claim 33, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring the generation of laser energy so that laser energy access of the mine via the material occurs with an interaction between the laser energy and the material exhibiting a displacement of the material in a predominantly solid state.

40. The method as recited in claim 33, further includes the step of:

selectably configuring the generation of laser energy so that laser energy access of the mine via the material occurring predominantly without vaporization of the material.

41. A method of treating a mine disposed at a location, the mine being buried at least in part with material thereabout, said method comprising the steps of:

generating laser energy; and

the laser energy accessing the mine by penetration through said material and irradiating the mine.

42. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein irradiation of the mine being sufficient to neutralize the mine.

43. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

running a solid-state lasing medium substantially uncooled during a lasing run.

44. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

operating a lasing medium substantially without cooling thereof until the lasing medium reaches a temperature where thermal population in a lower laser level begins to significantly lower inversion density.

45. The method as recited in claim 44, further includes the step of:

cooling the lasing medium at a rate limited only by a thermal stress fracture level of the lasing medium, following cessation of operation of the lasing medium.

46. The method as recited in claim 41, wherein the generating step further includes the step of:

operating a laser in a burst mode.

47. A method for use in neutralizing at least one mine each disposed at a respective location, each mine being buried at least in part with respective material thereabout, said method comprising the steps of:

performing a mine engagement operation in respect of a respective one of the at least one mine;

the mine engagement operation for the respective mine comprising the steps of;

running a solid-state lasing medium substantially uncooled during a lasing run to generate energy, and

directing the energy generated by the lasing medium in a manner aiming to access the respective mine,

the lasing medium delivering energy during the lasing run being sufficient to penetrate through the material to the mine and to neutralize the mine;

selectably iteratively repeating performance of the mine engagement operation for another respective one of the at least one mine; and

cooling the lasing medium following completion of the respective lasing run for a respective mine engagement operation, prior to performance of any next mine engagement operation.

57. The method as recited in claim 47, wherein said lasing run lasts for longer than about one second.

58. The method as recited in claim 57 wherein the lasing run does not exceed about 10 seconds.

59. The method as recited in claim 47, wherein the lasing medium exhibits at a pulse repetition of greater than about 1 Hz during the lasing run.

48. A system for use in association with a mine disposed at a location, the mine being buried at least in part with material thereabout, said system comprising:

a first system including a laser; and

a control system;

said control system being operably configured to direct the first system to generate laser energy penetrating to the mine through said material to operably neutralize the mine.

49. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein the first system further includes:

a solid-state lasing medium operably running substantially uncooled during a lasing run.

50. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein the first system further includes:

a lasing medium operably running substantially without cooling thereof until the lasing medium reaches a temperature where thermal population in a lower laser level begins to significantly lower inversion density.

51. The system as recited in claim 50, further includes:

means for cooling the lasing medium at a rate limited only by a thermal stress fracture level of the lasing medium, following cessation of operation of the lasing medium.

52. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said control system being operably configured further to direct the laser to operate in a burst mode.

53. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said control system being operably configured further to direct the laser to operate in a repetitive pulsing operation.

54. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein the laser includes a neodymium glass rod lasing medium.

55. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said control system being operably configured further to direct the laser to generate laser energy so that communication of the laser energy through said material occurs with an interaction between the laser energy and the material exhibiting a displacement of the material in a predominantly solid state.

56. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein said control system being operably configured further to direct the laser to generate laser energy so that penetration of the laser energy through said material occurring predominantly without vaporization of the material.

60. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein the first system further includes an energy storage source for facilitating selective deployment of said laser, said energy storage source being in a form of at least one electrochemical double-layer capacitor.

61. The system as recited in claim 60, wherein the first system further includes:

a flashlamp;

a flashlamp circuit operatively connected to said flashlamp and facilitating operation thereof;

an interface circuit operatively connected to said energy storage source and said flashlamp circuit, said interface circuit being a resonant charging circuit, said resonant charging circuit employing solid-state switches.

62. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein the first system further includes thermal lens compensation.

63. The system in claim 62, wherein the compensation is achieved with a telescope.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the separation of the lens in the telescope is adjustable.

65. The system as recited in claim 48, wherein the laser includes a solid state gain medium.

66. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein flashlamps used to energize the solid state gain medium are simmered.

67. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein flashlamps used to energize the solid state gain medium are pseudo-simmered.

68. The system as recited in claim 65, wherein the solid state gain medium is energized by flashlamps.

69. The system as recited in claim 66, wherein the solid state gain medium is energized by a diode array.