This book delves deeply into the real-world technologies behind the ‘directed energy weapons’ that many believe exist only within the confines of science fiction. On the contrary, directed energy weapons such as high energy lasers are very real, and this book provides a crash course in all the physical and mathematical concepts that make these weapons a reality. Written to serve both scientists researching the physical phenomena of laser effects, as well as engineers focusing on practical applications, the author provides worked examples demonstrating issues such as how to solve for heat diffusion equation for different boundary and initial conditions. Several sections are devoted to reviewing and dealing with solutions of diffusion equations utilizing the aid of the integral transform techniques. Ultimately this book examines the state-of-the-art in currently available high energy laser technologies, and suggests future directions for accelerating practical applications in the field.“br>/div

Directed Energy Weapons is nothing new to mankind, historically the origination of such weapons falls in centuries ago when first time the famous Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer Archimedes of Syracuse used different mirrors to collect sunbeams and focusing them on Romans fleet in order to destroy enemy ships with fire. This is known as the Archimedes Heat Ray. Archimedes may have used mirrors acting collectively as a parabolic reflector to burn ships attacking Syracuse. The device was used to focus sunlight onto approaching ships, causing them to catch fire. Of course the myth or reality of Archimedes Heat Ray still is a questionable story, but certain experiments with the help of a group of students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology was carried out with 127 one-foot (30 cm) square mirror tiles in October of 2005 that was focused on a mock-up wooden ship at a range of around 100 feet (30 m). The flames broke out on a patch of the ship, but only after the sky had been cloudless and the ship had remained stationary for around ten minutes. It was concluded the device was a feasible weapon under these conditions.

This publication represents the first in a series of DEPS textbooks, handbooks and monographs on topics of Directed Energy. The project from which this work was derived was originally funded by the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office (HEL-JTO). JTO was established in 2000 for the purpose of developing and executing comprehensive investment strategy for HEL science and technology that would underpin weapons weapons development. The JTO is currently sponsoring 80 programs across industry, academia, and government agencies with a budget of approximately 60 million. The competitively awarded programs are chosen to advance the current state of the art in HEL technology and fill technology gaps, thus providing a broad capability that can be harvested in acquisition programs by the military services. -- Preface.

High energy lasers (HEL) promise speed-of-light engagement, precision effects, and low collateral damage. These characteristics along with a nearly unlimited magazine make HELs attractive for installation on a tactical platform. This paper will consider whether a HEL-equipped F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) could be fielded in 2025. To answer this question, three topics will be explored. First, will HELs be sufficiently technically mature to permit installation on a fighter platform? Second, will the key supporting systems, to include power generation and storage, thermal management, and beam conditioning and control, be sufficiently technically mature for installation on a fighter platform? Next, will maturity of the key supporting systems occur in time to support a program to integrate a HEL on the JSF? Finally, are the development schedules and funding for the HEL, key supporting systems, and the JSF synchronized to support a 2025 fielding? The research methodology includes a review of current efforts in each of the technology areas mentioned previously. Additionally, interviews with key personnel involved with the JSF program are used to understand the challenges associated with integrating the aforementioned technologies on the JSF. The research concludes that the technical maturity of HELs and their supporting systems will be sufficiently advanced to permit fielding a HEL equipped JSF in 2025. The key issue that may prevent this from occurring is a lack of dedicated funding, both for development of the enabling technologies and also for the HEL integration effort on the JSF. The author closes the paper by exploring the rationale for installing a HEL on the JSF and considering whether the USAF's proposed long-range strike vehicle would be a better candidate than the JSF for HEL integration. The paper assumes the USAF would initiate a program to integrate a HEL on a platform like the JSF only if it offered both air-to-air and air-ground capabilities.