Propagation characteristics of high-average-power tube laser in hemisphere turret at sonic speeds

The propagation characteristics of high-average-power tube laser from a hemisphere turret on an airborne platform is studied theoretically. Based on the theoretical model for the four-dimensional propagation model of tube laser beams, the influences of aero-optical effect, atmosphere turbulence and thermal blooming effect on the propagation characteristics of the tube laser are simulated and analyzed. The results show that the aero-optical effect contributes dominantly to the degradation of the tube laser under the conditions of high speed and high altitude and further brings about severe beam spreading and centroid shift. Owing to the low air density at high altitude and high heat exchange efficiency at high speed, the atmosphere turbulence and thermal blooming effect are extremely weak. This result implies that the areo-optical effect should be paid more attention for the realization of long-distance propagation of tube lasers on high altitude flights.