Short Courses
The following short courses were offered on Monday, 22 March in conjunction with the
2021 Annual Directed Energy Science & Technology Symposium.
Continuing Education Unit (CEU) credits were awarded by DEPS for completion of the short courses.
Course 1. Introduction to High Energy Laser Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release (Dist A)
Instructor: Matthew Leigh, DE JTO
Duration: Half-day course, 0800 to 1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description:This lecture will introduce the field of HEL weapons and their associated technologies
using an interweaving of technical requirements, history, and accomplishments. The basic attributes of HEL weapons will be
covered, leading into discussions of laser-material interaction, lethality, potential weapon applications, system requirements,
laser power scaling, propagation, and beam control. DoD interest in tactical applications, current technical issues, and areas
of research emphasis will be highlighted.
Intended Audience: This course is geared to those with a technical background who seek an overview of HEL
technology and the current state of the art. Individuals who are beginning to work in the field or technical managers who
wish an integrated overview would benefit from the class.
Instructor Biography: Matthew Leigh earned his BS in Physics from Brigham Young University. He earned his PhD in Physics at the University of Arizona, and his dissertation work was on pulsed fiber lasers under the direction of Dr. Nasser
Peyghambarian. He worked at Spectra-Physics, NP Photonics, and
Envisioneering before entering government service. He helped out with a
number of projects at NSWC-DD, including the LaWS program. He was selected
to serve as the Navy Science and Technology Representative at the High
Energy Laser Joint Technology Office where he has been overseeing the
university Multidisciplinary Research Initiative program and the Atmospheric
Propagation TAWG.
Course 2. Introduction to High Power Microwave Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor:
- Samuel Gutierrez, Gryphon Technologies
- Sterling Beeson, AFRL
Duration: Half-day course, 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description:
This course will provide an introduction to RF Directed Energy weapons, also known as
High Power Microwave (HPM) weapons. The course consists of five parts: 1) a general introduction to the basic terms
and concepts, 2) prime power and pulsed power systems needed to drive HPM devices, 3) HPM sources to include concepts
and examples, 4) HPM narrowband and wideband antennas, and 5) design and fabrication of HPM systems.
At the end of the class, students will know what RF-DEWs are and how they differ from classical Electronic Warfare
and nuclear EMP. Students will learn the various ways to design and develop HPM subsystems to include the fundamental
concepts through the practical construction of such systems (science and engineering). Technology discussions will
show the difference between narrow band (NB) and ultra-wide band (UWB) sources, antennas and diagnostics, as well as
the principal elements of the power systems needed to support them. The course concludes with a examples of HPM systems
developed in the recent years. Topics to be covered include:
- Definitions, motivation, notional concepts
- Technology - Power Sources and Power Conditioning, Microwave Oscillators, Antennas, Diagnostics
- System level design for multiple application
Intended Audience: Newcomers to the field of RF-DEW or managers with some background in science and engineering
will benefit the most from this course.
Instructor Biography:
Sam Gutierrez has over 30 years of experience in directing and performing RDT&E programs. He has worked extensively in
Simulation, Effects, Test, and Prototyping of both HPM and High Energy Laser systems. He has had assignments in HPM, Optics,
HPC, Test, and as Staff Specialist for DEW at the ASD/R&E. He is currently a Principal Engineer and Program Manager in the
AFRL/RD HPM division. He holds an MSEE from the New Mexico State University, a BSEE from the University of New Mexico,
DAU level 3 Ratings in SE and S&T management, and FAA Pilot ratings in airplane and rotary wing aircraft.
Sterling Beeson is currently a Research Electronics Engineer at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM, USA. He works in the Directed Energy Directorate under the High Power Electromagnetic Division where he conducts research on HPEM sources and systems. He received a BS in Applied Physics from Angelo State University and a MS and PhD in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University for his work on pulsed RF generated plasmas with an emphasis on pulsed power, low temperature plasma physics, and microwave engineering.
Course 3. Windows and Coatings for HEL Systems
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release (Dist A)
Instructor: Bill Decker
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs 0800-1200
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description:
Windows - issues and solutions
- How are these windows different?
- What are the options for materials?
- What are the performance specs that are important to DE?
- Optical polishing technology - current state of the art
Coatings
- Why are they still a problem?
- Where can I get the work done?
Intended Audience: All with a desire to learn about optical materials and high performance coatings. A background in optics is not
required, but will enhance a student's experience. No formal training is required.
Instructor Biography: Mr. Decker served twenty years in the US Army, including assignments as a Physics Instructor at the US Military
Academy and as Research and Development Coordinator at the Army's Night Vision and Electro-Optics Laboratory. Since his retirement, he has held
management positions at ITT Night Vision, the University of Texas Applied Research Laboratory and at L-3 Brashear. He recently retired as the
Director, Technology Transition Center of Excellence at the Defense Acquisition University, where he also taught engineering and science and
technology management courses. Mr. Decker is a graduate of Cornell University and the Naval Postgraduate School.
Course 4. Digital Holography for DE Applications
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release (Dist A)
Instructors: Dr. Mark Spencer, AFRL
Duration: Full-day course, runs 0800-1200 and 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.70
Course Description: This short course summarizes five years of novel research in digital holography at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate (AFRL/RD) with collaborators at the US Air Force Academy (USAFA), the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), and the University of Rochester (amongst many others). The course follows the material presented in textbook chapters, dissertations, other short courses, journal articles, and patents to cover the topics needed to effectively lead R&D efforts that use digital holography (with an emphasis on directed-energy applications).
By the end of this course, students will know the fundamentals of digital holography and how to apply them to advanced topics like deep-turbulence wavefront sensing and imaging through deep turbulence.
Topics to be covered include refreshers on:
- Linear systems and Fourier optics
- Imaging systems and isoplanatic aberrations
Digital-holography fundamentals:
- Off-axis image plane recording geometry
- Signal-to-noise ratio and shot-noise limit
Advanced topics to be covered include:
- Deep-turbulence wavefront sensing
- Imaging through deep turbulence
Intended Audience: This course is for the working professional. Both technical personnel and program managers will benefit from the material presented within. Interested students should have an undergraduate education in science, engineering, or math.
Instructor Biography: Dr. Mark F. Spencer is a senior research physicist at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Directed Energy Directorate (AFRL/RD) and an adjunct assistant professor of optical sciences and engineering at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), within the Department of Engineering Physics. He currently serves as the Directed Energy Staff Specialist at US INDOPACOM (as a liaison from AFRL/RD). In the past, he served as the principal investigator for the Aero Effects and Beam Control Program (at AFRL/RD). Mark received his BS degree in physics from the University of Redlands in 2008 and his MS and PhD degrees in optical sciences and engineering from AFIT in 2011 and 2014, respectively. In addition to being a senior member of SPIE and OSA, he is an active member of the Directed Energy Professional Society.
Course 5. HEL Modeling CANCELLED
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor: TBD.
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: This course will provide a survey of modeling and simulation tools used in HEL system analysis and how they can be used together at every level of the modeling and simulation (M&S) pyramid. The course will include a description of HEL modeling tools in three levels of M&S to include: 1) Engineering/Physics, 2) Engagement, and 3) Mission. Each of these areas will be covered during the half-day course with an emphasis on end-to-end system modeling, model fidelity/complexity trade-offs, examples of specific types of analysis applications, and operational considerations necessary to represent HEL capabilities accurately in engagement and mission-level environments. At the end of the course, the student should expect to gain a familiarity with the broad scope of HEL modeling, many of the existing tools, and examples of how to use them together for various types of analytical applications.
List of Topics:
- Survey of many existing HEL modeling tools
- Methods to use the tools together to perform end-to-end system modeling
- Overview of the levels of the M&S pyramid and how to use them for different analysis objectives
- Operational considerations necessary to accurately represent HEL capabilities in engagement and mission-level environments
Intended Audience: US Government personnel and their contractors who are interested in methods and tools to assess realistic end-to-end HEL system performance through available modeling and simulation tools. The course is designed for systems engineers, operations research analysts, program managers or technologists who are interested in learning the applications of modeling and simulation techniques to evaluate HEL system performance and operational effectiveness. Technical managers or professionals with experience in HEL systems or individuals who are beginning to work in the field would benefit from the class.
Instructor Biography: TBD
Course 6. High Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons and Their Effects
Classification: Unclassified, Limited Distribution C
Instructor: John Tatum, SURVICE Engineering Company
Day/Time: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description:
This course is an introductory course to High Power Radio Frequency/Microwave (HPM) Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) and their effects. The course will cover what HPM weapons are, the type of weapons - Narrowband and Wideband, how the weapons are like, but different from traditional Electronic Warfare (EW) and Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), how the HPM energy couples in to a target's electronics and their effects. The course will also cover some of the basic modeling and simulation tools for computing/estimating the probability of target failure as a function of weapon power density and range. Finally, we will show an example of how to determine hardening requirements for a notional helicopter against an HPM weapon.
Some topics include:
- What are HPM DEW weapons?
- Why Does the Warfighter Care About HPM DEWs?
- What are the Types of HPM DEWs?
- How are HPM DEWs similar to EW and EMP, but different?
- How Does HPM DEW energy couple into a target?
- What are the Effects of HPM DEW?
- How can we Compute/Estimate the HPM DEW Level Required to Produce System Failure?
- How can we Protect our Systems Against HPM DEW Environments?
Intended Audience: This course is intended for those individuals that are looking for an introduction to High Power Microwave Directed Energy Weapons and their effects on target systems. The course assumes that the student has some science/engineering background and understands some Radio Frequency/Microwave theory and techniques.
Instructor Biography:
John T. Tatum is an electronic system's engineer with over 44 years of experience in Radar, Electronic Warfare (EW), Electromagnetic (EM) Effects and Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs) and their effects. Mr. Tatum now works for the SURVICE Engineering Company as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) EW and Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RF DEWs) and their effects. He also acts as a SME for the Defense Systems Information Analysis Center (DSIAC) and provides information on RF DEW technology and effects.
Before SURVICE, he worked for the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) in Adelphi, Md. {formerly Harry Diamond Laboratories (HDL)} in ARL's RF Electronics Division for almost 37 years, where he directed and participated in High Power RF/Microwave (HPM) effects investigations on military systems and supporting infrastructure. Mr. Tatum also investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of RF DEW concepts for various Army applications. Mr. Tatum was the Army chairman of the RF DE Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manual (JMEM) Working Group and chaired RF Effects Panel for the OSD Technology Panel on DEW. He is a fellow of the Directed Energy Professional Society (DEPS) and has published several papers on RF susceptibility assessments, system effects investigations and effects data bases in both DoD and IEEE conferences. In his spare time, Mr. Tatum is a volunteer teacher for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to elementary, middle and high school students.
Course 7. Modeling Dynamic Optical Systems: A System Level Control Approach
Classification: Unclassified, Public Release (Dist A)
Instructor:
- Steven Griffin, Boeing
- Karl Schrader, Boeing
Duration: Half-day course, runs 1300-1700
CEUs awarded: 0.35
Course Description: The class goes through background material necessary to model the different parts of an integrated, line-of-sight jitter model or that of another optical metric. Parts include ray tracing, finite element modeling, state-space modeling and servo-control.
At the end of class, students should have enough familiarity with all the component parts of the problem to develop their own, rudimentary line-of-sight model. The tools Karl and I use are Zemax, Nastran and Simulink but a student should be able to take the principals discussed in the class and apply them to other tools.
Topics to be covered in this course include:
- Linear dynamic system models and extension to optical systems
- Basic Finite element modeling and application to optical systems
- Modeling optical control systems
- Modeling control of line-of-sight jitter and other optical metrics
- Extension to compliant optics
Intended Audience: It is assumed that the student has an undergraduate engineering degree and an interest in optics and structural dynamics. Ideally, the student would be familiar with finite element, ray tracing and control simulation tools.
Instructor Biographies:
Steven Griffin has more than 30 years of experience in vibration management applied and basic research. Primary areas of expertise include optical/structural LOS modeling for surveillance and directed energy systems, integrated structural acoustic modeling, vibration management, smart structures, optical space structures, composite structures, and structural health monitoring. As Chief Engineer at Boeing MSSS Maui, tasks are focused on systems engineering and technical problem solving. Author on more than 20 journal or book publications and more than 50 conference publications in the fields of acoustics, spacecraft structures and vibration management with 41 awarded patents and 9 patents pending. Recognized as Boeing Designated Expert, Technical Lead Engineer, Senior Technical Fellow and AIAA Fellow.
Karl Schrader is an optics and controls engineer with over 35 years of experience in optical design & analysis, fabrication, integration, and testing. He is currently a Boeing Associate Technical Fellow, where has been employed for over 12 years. He was previously a Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories, where he was employed for 10 years. He has also worked as a contractor at the Air Force Research Laboratory.
| Course Fees |
|
| |
Half-Day Class
|
Full-Day Class
|
| Full-time students |
$0
|
$0
|
| Others |
$300
|
$550
|
Note: Two half day classes can be selected for the
price of a full-day class. |
Registration
To register for a short course separate from the Annual DE S&T Symposium, select one of the following options.
(If you plan to also register for the Symposium, you may use the
Symposium registration form instead.)
- Complete this form to
register on-line.
Note that on-line registration does not require on-line payment.
Some organizations have installed web filters that prevent on-line registration
from inside their facilities. If this appears to be true for you, please try again off-site
or use the registration option below.
- Print this
registration form (in PDF format) and follow the instructions provided.
Persons requesting cancellation through 15 March will receive a full refund. Cancellations after 15 March
are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. There will be no refunds after 19 March.
Last updated: 1 April 2021
