Preface

This book is on the effects of directed energy weapons: how they propagate to and interact with targets. Propagation and target interaction are the key elements in an analysis of a weapon’s utility to accomplish a given mission. For example, the effectiveness of a nuclear missile is determined by the yield of its warhead and the accuracy of its guidance, and the effectiveness of a rifle is determined by the type of round fired, the range to the target, and the skill of the soldier who fires it. Directed energy weapons are no different. But while there are books and manuals that deal with the issues affecting the utility of nuclear missiles and rifles, there is no comparable source of information for directed energy weapons. I have tried to fill that void with this book. Weapons are devices which deliver sufficient energy to targets to damage them. Weapon design involves a dialog between weapon designers, and military planners. Designers create means of projecting energy, and planners have targets that they would like to destroy. Effective design requires knowledge of the targets and the circumstances of their engagement, and effective planning requires a knowledge of the weapons and their characteristics. But in new and emerging areas of weaponry, designers and planners often do not speak the same language. As a result, designers can operate in ignorance of operational realities, and planners can assume that anything involving new technology will meet all their needs. This book should also serve as an introduction to the language of directed energy weapons for military planners and other non-technical persons who need to understand what the engineers and scientists involved in their development are talking about. Chapter 1 outlines basic philosophies and ideas that are used throughout the book. The other chapters are each devoted to a specific type of directed energy weapon, and are reasonably self-contained. Therefore, a reader interested primarily in one weapon type will find it sufficient to read Chapter 1 together with the chapter of interest. In some cases, duplication is avoided by developing topics in great detail in one chapter, and presenting them again in a summary form in other chapters. The reader is referred to the detailed discussion for any elaboration that may be required.

I have assumed no technical background other than that associated with an introductory college-level physics course. Some knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is assumed. Knowledge of calculus would be helpful but is not required. Equations are provided so that those with sufficient interest and motivation can extend the results in the text. Numerous graphs and examples will enable casual readers to skim over any material which seems too mathematical.

Weaponry is not a precise science. Propagation paths and target details are never known precisely. You would not want to go hunting for bear with a rifle whose bullet was precisely designed to just penetrate the skin of an average bear, only to come up against a bear that had just put on weight for the winter! You would probably prefer a rifle designed to work against the biggest conceivable bears. The same is true of directed energy weapons. Too much precision in effects calculations is unwarranted, and a certain amount of conservatism is required in defining operational parameters. Therefore, I have kept arguments physical and intuitive at the expense of mathematical rigor. All formulas and expressions should be considered correct to "zero order" - good enough to produce answers within an order of magnitude of the "correct" result. No attempt has been made to incorporate the latest and most accurate experimental data, as these are under continual revision. Rather, the material presented here is designed to enable you to place theories and results in the proper context. Extensive notes and references are provided for those who would care to go into any topic in greater depth.