Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme
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AKA: Arbeitskreis Physik und Abrüstung
AKA 3: Neue Technologien, Dual-Use und präventive Rüstungskontrolle
AKA 3.1: Talk
Thursday, March 29, 2007, 12:00–12:30, H45
Assessment of a High Energy Laser missile defense project — •Jan Stupl1,2,3, Götz Neuneck1, Claus Emmelmann2, and Hartwig Spitzer3 — 1Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik an der Universität Hamburg (IFSH) — 2Institut für Laser- und Anlagensystemtechnik (iLAS), Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg — 3Institut für Experimentalphysik, Universität Hamburg
Today, a number of military research programs focus on high energy laser based Directed energy weapons. One possible application for HEL weapons is missile defense. The most prominent U.S. weapon project concerned with this task is the U.S. Airborne Laser (ABL).
The basic idea behind the ABL is to install a megawatt class chemical laser into a freighter jet und destroy missiles in their boost phase over distances of several hundred kilometres. This talk presents analyses in progress regarding the ABL's technical implications for missile defense and other applications. Results in regard to possible structural damage of target objects at temperatures below their melting point will be presented. As the ABL will not be able to destroy missile warheads but only missile boosters, the necessary laser dwell time until material failure takes place determines, where potentially dangerous warheads will come down. This might endanger third parties and has political implications.