The HELEEOS Atmospheric Effects Package: A Probabilistic Method for Evaluating Uncertainty in Low-Altitude, High-Energy Laser Effectiveness
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Winter 2006
Abstract
The Air Force Institute of Technology's (AFIT's) Center for Directed Energy, sponsored by the High Energy Laser Joint Technology Office(JTO), has developed the High Energy Laser End-to-End Operational Simulation (HELEEOS) parametric one-on-one-engagement-level model. HELEEOS incorporates scaling laws tied to respected wave optics codes and all significant degradation effects to include thermal blooming due to molecular and aerosol absorption, scattering extinction, and optical turbulence. The HELEEOS model enables the evaluation of uncertainty in low-altitude, high-energy laser (HEL) engagement due to all major clear-air atmospheric effects. Atmospheric parameters investigated include profiles of temperature, pressure, water vapor content, and optical turbulence as they relate to layer extinction coefficient magnitude. Worldwide seasonal, diurnal, and geographical spatial-temporal variability in these parameters is organized into probability density function (PDF) databases using a variety of recently available resources to include the Extreme and Percentile Environmental Reference Tables (ExPERT), the Master Database for Optical Turbulence Research in Support of the Airborne Laser, the Global Aerosol Data Set (GADS), and the Directed Energy Environmental Simulation Tool (DEEST) in conjunction with Air Force Weather Agency MM5 numerical weather forecasting data. Updated ExPERT mapping software allows the HELEEOS operator to choose from specific site or regional surface and upper air data to characterize correlated molecular absorption, aerosol absorption and scattering, and optical turbulence by percentile. The PDF nature of the HELEOS atmospheric effects package enables realistic probabilistic outcome analyses that permit an estimation of the level of uncertainty in the calculated probability of kill (Pk). Abstract © DEPS.
Source Publication
Journal of Directed Energy
Recommended Citation
Fiorino, S. T., Bartell, R. J., Perram, G. P., Bunch, D. W., Graveley, L. E., Rice, C. A., Manning, Z. P., Krizo, M. J., Roadcap, J. R., & Jumper, G. Y. (2006). The HELEEOS Atmospheric Effects Package: A Probabilistic Method for Evaluating Uncertainty in Low-Altitude, High-Energy Laser Effectiveness. Journal of Directed Energy, 1(4).
Comments
© 2006 Directed Energy Professional Society.
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