An experimental prototype of free-vortex aerodynamic window for high energy lasers

摘要

The free-vortex aerodynamic windows (abbr. FADW) can take the place of the conventional solid windows for high energy lasers to solve the problems caused by the intrinsic fractional absorption of the laser energy. Usually the procedure in designing FADW includes two central processes. The first is to design the asymmetric supersonic laval nozzle using the method of characteristics and the method of simple wave under the ideal conditions, and the second is to design the diffuser. The method of designing the diffuser of FADW is based on the experimental method mostly, but the diffuser's properties influences the performance of the overall FADW system deadly, so an experimental prototype of FADW whose structure and layout is adjustable has been designed and manufactured to optimize the design of the diffuser for FADW system. This paper reports the design methods of the FADW system and discusses the experimental results. The results show that this prototype of the FADW has good running properties, and FADW whose structure and layout is adjustable can be used to optimize the FADW design perfectly.