High energy laser pointing and tracking system utilizing beam angle/focus dither method of operation

摘要

Optimum energy delivery in a high energy laser system is realized by intensity modulating the transmitted laser beam and demodulating the received reflected laser energy to obtain phase error signals. The error signals are used by a servo system to direct the transmitted beam. Beam intensity modulation is accomplished by angle/focus dither. In systems having relatively small slewing or scanning mirrors the angle dither is accomplished by manipulating the mirror itself. For systems having large slewing mirrors a small aperture mirror is positioned adjacent to the slewing mirror and used to impart the required dither to a small portion of the transmitted laser beam.