Engineering a Free Electron Laser: Underlying Protection of America
Wouldn’t it be nice to pay less tax money and not have such extensive government spending?
Well now with new weapon technology, decreasing taxes and government expenditure seems
to be a likely outcome. Weapons technology is quickly emerging and is more important with
every coming year. “Peace through strength” is a concept that runs strong in the world and
the source that motivates engineers to keep people safe and come up with technologies such
as the free electron laser, or FEL. Through engineering, the country now has a stronger
means of self-defense as exemplified via the FEL laser beam that contains unlimited
amounts of ammunition provided at a low price. A future with the FEL offers more
protection against terror while keeping more money in people’s pocket. The future could
also possibly entail handheld lasers, which could change the world in many ways, both good
and bad.
Introduction
Every day the average American does not necessarily think about the safety that is provided to
them. They are free from harm’s way with nothing to bother them besides their daily issues at
work or home. However, the freedom and liberty that most people walk around with is provided
by not only the military but also the engineers who design and craft the newest technology to
keep their country safe. The free electron laser, also known as FEL, is the best and most up to
date technology the United States Navy has ever had. The FEL has the capability to burn any
enemy ship, plane, or incoming missile with a high intensity laser beam as shown in Figure 1.
Having this weapon technology will decrease the likeliness of attacks or harassment against the
United States by providing
U.S. ships with a technology
that can travel the speed of
light and use unlimited
ammunition for a more
dominant mean of selfprotection [1]. This provides
even further protection for
American citizens. The FELs
ground-breaking technology
will change how the Navy
fights its future battles and
may one day become a
handheld laser beam. This
change in weaponry has the
potential to change the
regulations and laws of war
for all countries.
Figure 1: The laser technology from a ship [1]
Development of Laser Technology
Using light as a weapon began when Hippocrates, a commander of Greek military in 212 B.C.,
apparently burned the Roman ships by redirecting sunbeams using reflectors [2]. Every
civilization has strived to improve on the idea of using a beam of heat to produce a weapon. As
time passed, more research was focused on creating specific laser technology to advance the
world’s weaponry. The first laser was created in 1960 and forever changed the view on
weaponry for warfare, but only in 1999 did the Department of Defense, also known as DoD,
recognize the laser as a future weapon and began extravagant research [2]. There are many types
of lasers that have been created over time such as solid-state lasers, chemical lasers, gas lasers,
and miscellaneous lasers. All of these have significance in the design and technology of the most
advanced laser, the FEL.
The LASER, or Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, shoots beams of light
that contains radiation and heat [2]. A laser is a gadget that controls energized atoms to discharge
photons or light particles [3]. In a laser, the medium is forced to get atoms into an energized state
by flashes of electricity or light. These particles are typically agitated a couple levels above their
original state. Some electrons become more energized than others and the electrons that absorbed
energy to reach this excited level can also eject that energy [3]. The released energy comes in the
form of photons. The photons that are emitted have specific wavelengths that depends on the
state of the electron's energy when the photon is released [3].
The first laser to produce bare minimum power was in 1960. The solid-state laser such as the
ruby laser was invented by Theodore Maiman. This technology uses a rod made of glass or
crystal along with an active material of metal to produce light as shown in Figure 2 [2]. These
solid-state lasers are used for most widespread applications such as lamps or a simple beam.
Using different material can produce more powerful beams commonly used for rangefinders and
target designators [2]. These lasers are usually small, inexpensive, and powered by a battery.
Figure 2: Parts of the First Ruby Laser made in the 1960's [2]
Later on in 1960, Ali Javan created the first helium neon, or gas laser. Chemical lasers such as
gas lasers use chemical reactions to produce a laser beam. This is done by exciting atoms
through a combustion reaction [2]. The excited atoms are accelerated using a gas such as helium,
for example, that is injected into the cavity of the laser, reflected off mirrors, and then follows
through to produce the beam. Gas lasers are a unique type of substance laser that uses pure gas to
make the beam [2]. These gas lasers function in applications such as scanning, positioning,
measurement, and stabilization devices. Then in 1962 Robert Hall came out with a
semiconductor laser. These semiconductor lasers are what produce television, CD players,
radios, communications, and medicines [2].
Eventually in 1964 Kumar Patel invented the CO2 laser that produced the most important laser
for high energy weaponry. The laser works by burning methane or fuel in oxygen and passing
through a series of nozzles to finally result in a laser beam [2]. Gas lasers such as the CO2 laser
were a new phenomenon that only made the research of laser weaponry more interesting. The
CO2 laser technology was then followed up with the first chemical laser using hydrogen
fluoride, producing 1 kilowatt of power in 1965 [2]. And in 1968 DARPA, the Defense
Advanced Research Projects Agency invented a laser producing 100 kilowatts and eventually in
1975 the Navy-ARPA Chemical Laser, or NACL, produced a 250 kilowatts power laser beam
[2]. Another example of laser weapon development includes the Tactical High-Energy Laser
created by the United States Army in 2000 through 2001. This laser successfully shot down
mortar and missile shells while being tested in 2002 and 2004 [2]. A more recent example would
be the Airborne Laser or
ABL that used CO2 laser
technology. This laser was
placed on a C-130H
aircraft, as shown below
in Figure 3, and was able
to successfully vaporize a
target on land while going
through testing [2].
Unfortunately, the laser
has been discontinued due
to affordability and
technological issues.
Lastly, but certainly not
least, the Navy Laser
Weapon System, also
known as the FEL was
Figure 3: The Airborne Laser weaponry technology designed by the U.S.
produced and successfully
Air Force [2]
tracked, engaged, and shot
down an unmanned drone
in 2009 [2].
Methodology
A free electron laser is an extremely complex weapon but if broken down simply, it is more
comprehensible. Although a regular laser is vastly different in the way that a free electron laser
produces its beam, a laser weapon generally needs more than 50 kilowatts to megawatts of power
to be efficient. This amount of power is extremely high compared to any commercial laser [2].
The free electron laser is able to generate this high-strength laser light by utilizing the energy
from unbound electrons [1]. Electrons are particles with a charge of negative electricity that are
found in all atoms. With these electrons the FEL can produce a beam of light that is powerful
enough to burn through metals and capable of destroying enemy threats such as missiles,
aircrafts, and ships. Unfortunately, the process to make a weapon as powerful as this is difficult
and includes many steps, therefore making it much more difficult to transform into a handheld
weapon citizens could use.
To create a free electron laser beam, engineers need to excite atoms and light particles called
photons that radiate outwards. Those photons mirror light back into the excited atoms, creating
additional photons [4]. Figure 4 shows an example of how the photons and electrons travel
through the FEL; the photons are pushed through an accelerator and are then reflected off of
mirrors till the end of the path is reached where the laser light will be produced [4]. The freeelectron laser is exceptional because it uses supercharged electrons that run through
superconductors and magnets, also known as an accelerator [5]. The superconductors and
magnets allow for the user to control the speed at which the electrons leave the accelerator,
making it possible to operate the machinery on different wavelengths to strengthen or weaken the
beam [5]. The potency of the beam is able to stay strong through the outside air because the
operator can adjust the wavelengths to compensate for good or bad air, unlike any other laser
beam [4]. For example, water vapor, smoke, salt particles, dust, pollen, and other contaminants
absorb and disperse light, making it difficult for lasers to produce sufficient heat levels, but
because of the oscillation possibility, the laser can continue to change frequencies [5]. The
farther the target, the more difficult it will be for a normal laser to function properly as well. An
FEL solves this problem by having the widest frequency range of any type of laser that has ever
been made [5].
Figure 4: Example of how the FEL works [4]
To make the beam more or less powerful, all that is needed is to add electrons by putting
pressure to the power source. This is done with a special gun called an injector. Because the FEL
uses accelerated unbound electrons in its medium the electrons are created by the injector. The
injector pressurizes the electrons and sends them shooting through the accelerator at certain
speeds to produce the laser beam [5]. After the electrons’ energy is converted into laser energy,
the electron beam recycles itself through the accelerator. The electrons travel more slowly but
still contain high energy and can be used for the next burst of electrons that are injected into the
accelerator [6]. The accelerator acts as a battery and it does not need much recharging. This
makes the free electron laser system one of the most efficient energy systems in the Navy.
Because the laser beam is created in this fashion, the advantages seem to be endless. The FEL is
unaltered by gravity, causes low collateral damage, engages targets at the speed of light, has a
long range, and can cause a predetermined amount of damage to specific objects [2]. Although a
laser as optimal as the FEL was unimaginable in yesterday’s world, engineers have been able to
manufacture this weapon and make it a very real threat to anybody in opposition to the United
States.
The Capability of an FEL
Engineers are always creating and pushing for better technology, and even though the
engineering process of this laser works, the actual effectiveness of the laser beam is still being
tested. The laser that was placed on a United States Naval ship, the USS Ponce, is still
undergoing tests to determine such factors as whether it will work well in poor weather
conditions or work for faster moving threats such as fighter jets [6]. They have conducted some
testing already and have taken down twelve out of twelve unmanned drones flying above or near
the ship, resulting in a one hundred percent rate of effectiveness [6]. The hundred percent rate of
effectiveness proves that the FEL, even under development, is truly one of the most effective
weapons there are.
The free electron laser is not only effective in its usage so far but it is also cost effective. Having
a weapon such as the FEL allows for a wide variety of positive effects. The FEL can be used for
much more than just destroying targets. It can also be used to warn other sea vessels or aircraft
so as to not approach the ship or in case of certain emergencies. The reason it is able to be used
as something as insignificant as a warning is mainly because of how inexpensive the cost a shot
is. The free electron laser costs about one U.S. dollar to shoot [7]. This is an enormous difference
than for say, shooting a regular explosive munitions that could cost up to 15 million U.S. dollars
for each shot [7]. Although the price to build a laser of this caliber is about 32 million dollars, in
the long run the low cost per engagement is what will make this weapon extremely profitable and
by far the most cost effective for society [7]. This allows the United States Navy to have more
free range in using their weapon systems since every shot is normally so costly.
Figure 5: The functional free electron laser that was mounted onto a Navy warfare ship [2]
Although FEL has considerably lowered their rate of cost per shot, manufacturing these is still a
big political issue. There has been an incredible amount of money put into the research to design
a weapon of this power and the cost to continue to improve the free electron laser does not come
cheap [8].
To see the Office of Naval Research Official video about the free electron laser weapon visit,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWdGkb7r1iA.
Futuristic Use
Though the United States now has this
laser on a ship, it will take a huge
amount of effort and a decent amount of
time for engineers to create the same
product in a miniature size. Human
society seems to have an enormous
desire to have handheld laser guns such
as the one displayed in Figure 6.
However, the technology has not yet
proven to be a success. These guns could
possibly be produced by the engineers
who created the free electron laser
weapon system, but would take another
enormous investment to provide all the
research and tools to test and build such
a weapon. There would also be many
problems that the engineers would come
Figure 6: A futuristic design of a handheld laser gun
[http://www.examiner.com/article/diy-handheld-laser-gun-canblind-maim-and-or-kill]
across. The cost to manufacture hand held weapons containing such technology would hopefully
be cheaper than the cost of creating just one. However, when considering the fact that one free
electron laser costs 35 million dollars, it is improbable that these would be manufactured with
ease. A few other problems that engineers might reach is the fact that the laser needs a large
enough energy source and/or capability to pulse, or adjust wavelength, to keep the laser strong
enough to do any significant damage. Guns such as these would create many problems for
engineers and politics if all aspects are not taken into consideration. Unlike regular guns that use
bullets that could be traced back to a certain gun, beams don’t have any residual waste. Before
releasing any technology such as a handheld FEL to the public, both engineers and politicians
would have to seriously take this into concern [9]. Even the distance at which to allow the beam
to travel could be an issue for many people [9]. Overall, the use of the miniature laser beams
would be too difficult to control and manage in the world as of today. Regardless of all of these
issues, this future technology can and most likely will be probable in the near future. People in
society will have to learn to cope and accept the radical changes being made in laser weaponry.
Conclusion
The free electron laser weapon system is now one of the most efficient weapon systems known
to man. Both cost efficient and now energy efficient, the engineers have created tomorrow’s
weapon today. These engineers were able to create a cushion of not only extra safety but also
extra money for the country of the United States and all of its citizens. Having a developed, free
electron laser weapon is key to the success of the statement, “to serve and protect”. The FEL will
keep sailors and marines safe from harm’s way, along with America’s coastal shores and all of
its citizens. As for the future of the FEL research and development there is still much to be done
and much to improve on. Yet seeing what has already been created it seems that there are
limitless opportunities for this technology to reach civilian hands. The lives of every human
across the globe will be affected by this weapon system and with a bit of good fortune it will be
for the benefit of the entire world.
References
[1] Free Electron Laser. (2012, July). [Online]. Available:
http://www.onr.navy.mil/~/media/Files/Fact-Sheets/35/Free-Electron-Laser2012C.ashx
[2] M. Olson. (2012). History of Laser Weapon Research. Leading Edge. [Online].
Available: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA557756
[3] M. Weschler. (2000, April 1). How Lasers Work. [Online]. Available:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/laser4.htm
[4] M. Jessup. (2011, February 21).U.S. Navy Breaks Scientific Barriers With ‘Death Ray
of the Future’ Laser Weapon. [Online]. Available:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011/02/21/u-s-navy-breaks-scientific-barrierswith-death-ray-of-the-future-laser-weapon
[5] O. Ramos. (2014). Blasting Missiles Out of the Sky. [Online]. Availabe:
http://www.lanl.gov/science/NSS/issue1_2012/story5full.shtml
[6] J. Vizcarra. (2012, March 16). Office of Naval Research: Free Electron Laser
Weapon System To Debut This Year. [Online]. Available:
http://www.quantumday.com/2012/03/office-of-naval-research-free-electron.html
[7] J. Fishell. (2013, April 8). The future is now: Navy to deploy lasers on ships in 2014
[Online]. Availabe: http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/04/08/future-is-nownavy-to-deploys-lasers-on-ships-in-2014
[8] K. Vlahos. (2011, February 20). Navy Breaks World Record With Futuristic FreeElectron Laser. [Online]. Available:
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2011/02/18/navy-breaks-world-record-futuristiclaser-getting-real
[9] G. Templeton. (2013, April 18). The Science of Beam Weapons. [Online]. Available:
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/153224-the-science-of-beam-weapons