Plasma absorption wave limiter
First Claim
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1. A plasma absorption wave limiter, comprising:
- a limiting layer transmissive in a pass band of a sensor and capable of generating a reflective and absorptive free electron plasma that will propagate and dissipate therein; and
a trigger layer located aft of and in contact with the limiting layer and capable of residually absorbing incident radiation and initiating the free electron plasma in the limiting layer responsive to a threat.
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Abstract
A plasma absorption wave limiter is disclosed. The plasma absorption wave limiter comprises a limiting layer and a trigger layer. The limiting layer is transmissive in a pass band of a sensor and capable of generating a reflective and absorptive free electron plasma that will propagate and dissipate therein. The trigger layer is located aft of and in contact with the limiting layer and is capable of residually absorbing incident radiation and initiating the thermal plasma wave in the limiting layer responsive to a threat.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A plasma absorption wave limiter, comprising:
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a limiting layer transmissive in a pass band of a sensor and capable of generating a reflective and absorptive free electron plasma that will propagate and dissipate therein; and
a trigger layer located aft of and in contact with the limiting layer and capable of residually absorbing incident radiation and initiating the free electron plasma in the limiting layer responsive to a threat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A plasma absorption wave limiter, comprising:
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an optically transmissive substrate including a forward face and an aft face relative to a direction of propagation of threat optical energy incident thereon; and
a film formed on the aft side of the transmissive substrate capable of residually absorbing incident energy from a threat that heats the substrate, causing the substrate to generate a plasma wave therefrom that propagates and dissipates into the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical assembly, comprising:
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a plasma absorption wave limiter;
a sensor including a detector protected by the plasma absorption wave limiter; and
a thermal control apparatus in which the sensor is housed to control the operating temperature of the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An optical apparatus, comprising:
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a plasma absorption wave limiter, including;
a limiting layer transmissive in a pass band of a sensor and capable of generating a reflective and absorptive free electron plasma that will propagate and dissipate therein; and
a trigger layer located aft of and in contact with the limiting layer and capable of residually absorbing incident radiation and initiating the thermal plasma wave in the limiting layer responsive to a threat; and
a plurality of optical elements located aft of the plasma absorption wave limiter relative to a direction of propagation of the optical energy. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification