A combination of dielectric thin film and laser absorption dye technologies was introduced to fabricate a clear reflective aircrew's laser eye protection (LEP) visor. The interlayer and thin film layer materials for the high and low refractive indices are optimized. A clear visor with 26 % visibility was achieved for more than four optical densities (OD) LEP. In addition, an oxide compound film coating was explored to seek extra protection for the delaminating of the fragile multilayer dielectric thin film coating. As a side effect, applying surface-active agents on the oxide compound film resulted in good dustproof and anti-fog properties.
A chromatic performance simulation is introduced to achieve a sensitive transmission/attenuation property of aircrew laser eye protection (LEP) visors. The simulation optimizes dye selection for best visual performance during the design phase without actually manufacturing test pieces. Prototype daytime and nighttime LEP in-helmet type visors are manufactured to demonstrate that careful dye selection can realize attenuation by a factor of more than 1000 at four laser lines in the visible to near-infrared spectral range, and simultaneously realize the high visibility required for aircrew job performance. Optical measurements and several key ballistic protection tests prove that both LEP visors meet military use requirements.
Non-contact, high precision interferometric techniques like phase shifting interferometry (PSI), vertical scanning interferometry (VSI) and a VSI and PSI combination are commonly used for surface topography measurement. In order to obtain quality object surface data these techniques rely on both high fringe contrast and maximum intensity, which occur when the beams reflected from the reference and object surfaces are of equal intensity and when the fringe maxima are close to the saturation level of the detector. However, these conditions are difficult to attain when testing objects that have both high and low reflectance within the tested area such as ball grid arrays on a low-reflective substrate or a silver step on a glass substrate. Our proposals allow for obtaining better quality data when testing samples that have both high and low reflectivity areas. Separate modifications are suggested first for samples with different areas of reflectivity that are significantly separated in the vertical direction and second for samples with different reflectivity areas separated by less than about 10 microns in the vertical direction.
The middle-infrared wavelength region around 3-5 m corresponds to the best optical laser band for high
atmospheric transmittance and eye-safety. Middle-infrared lasers are used in laser range finders, laser radars, and
so on. There are only a few reports on the atmospheric laser transmittance of these middle-infrared optical bands.
This paper describes, we believe for the first time, middle-infrared atmospheric transmittance characteristics as
measured by the second and third harmonics of tunable TEA-CO2 lasers.
The experimental results showed that the laser transmittance at 3.4 - 3.6 m correlated well with the results
calculated by the HITRAN-PC code, assuming a middle-latitude, summer condition. The measured transmittance
at 4.6 - 4.8 ,um exhibited a fine-structure, probably due to the absorption of atmospheric molecules such as NO2
and H20.
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