Scattering of ground based lasers by aerosols in an atmosphere with enhanced particle content

Abstract A component of the proposed Strategic Defense Initiative may be a high power ground based laser system. In scenarios which may lead to a nuclear winter, the aerosol content and composition of the atmosphere is altered. Within this environment, this paper examines the effect of scattering of the ground based laser by aerosols in order to determine the degree of deterioration of the laser beam. The thermodynamics of aerosol and ambient medium heating by pulsed high energy lasers is calculated to determine the time-dependent temperature variations of the aerosol surface and surrounding medium. The resulting temperature variations give rise to non-uniformities in the index of refraction which act as scattering centers for the laser beam. The scattering of the laser beam from these non-uniform index of refraction centers is calculated by the use of the Born approximation. The range of aerosol and laser beam variables that may cause significant deterioration of the ground based laser is discussed.