Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics (한국광학회지)

Optical Society of Korea (한국광학회)
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Analysis of Laser-beam Thermal Effects In an Infrared Camera and Laser Common-path Optical System

적외선 카메라-레이저 공통광학계의 레이저빔 열 영향성 분석

  • Received : 2017.03.14
  • Accepted : 2017.06.12
  • Published : 2017.08.25
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Abstract

An infrared camera and laser common-path optical system is applied to DIRCM (directional infrared countermeasures), to increase boresighting accuracy and decrease weight. Thermal effects of a laser beam in a common-path optical system are analyzed and evaluated, to predict any degradation in image quality. A laser beam with high energy density is absorbed by and heats the optical components, and then the surface temperature of the optical components increases. The heated optical components of the common-path optical system decrease system transmittance, which can degrade image quality. For analysis, the assumed simulation condition is that the laser is incident for 10 seconds on the mirror (aluminum, silica glass, silicon) and lens (sapphire, zinc selenide, silicon, germanium) materials, and the surface temperature distribution of each material is calculated. The wavelength of the laser beam is $4{\mu}m$ and its output power is 3 W. According to the results of the calculations, the surface temperature of silica glass for the mirror material and sapphire for the lens material is higher than for other materials; the main reason for the temperature increase is the absorption coefficient and thermal conductivity of the material. Consequently, materials for the optical components with high thermal conductivity and low absorption coefficient can reduce the image-quality degradation due to laser-beam thermal effects in an infrared camera and laser common-path optical system.

지향성적외선방해장비의 정렬 정밀도를 높히고 중량을 감소시키기 위해 적용된 적외선 카메라-레이저 공통광학계 구조에서 영상 성능 저하를 야기시키는 레이저빔 열 영향성을 분석하였다. 높은 에너지 밀도를 가지는 레이저빔이 광부품에 흡수되면 열이 발생하고 온도가 상승한다. 공통광학계 광부품 표면에서 발생한 열은 시스템 투과율을 감소시켜 적외선 카메라의 영상 품질을 저하시킬 수 있다. 지향성적외선방해장비의 운용개념을 고려하여 파장 $4{\mu}m$, 출력 3 W의 레이저빔이 10초간 미러(알루미늄, 실리카 글래스, 실리콘) 및 렌즈(사파이어, 셀레늄화아연, 실리콘, 게르마늄) 재료에 조사되는 상황을 가정하여 온도 분포를 계산하였다. 계산 결과, 미러 재료로는 실리카 글래스, 렌즈 재료로는 사파이어의 온도 상승이 상대적으로 컸고, 재료 온도 분포에 가장 큰 영향을 미치는 요소는 재료의 레이저빔 흡수율과 열전도도임을 확인하였다. 결론적으로 적외선 카메라-레이저 공통광학계에 사용하는 광부품은 흡수율이 낮고 열전도도가 높은 특성을 갖도록 선정되어야 광부품 온도 상승에 의한 적외선 카메라의 영상 품질 저하를 방지할 수 있다.

Keywords

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