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HIGH ENERGY LASER TEST FACILITY
This facility contains a wide array of lasers, instruments, and associated capabilities that are configurable to
meet the needs of the test or experiment. The various capabilities are described below.
Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser
The Mid-Infrared Advanced Chemical Laser (MIRACL) is a megawatt-class, continuous wave chemical
laser. It is a deuterium fluoride (DF) chemical laser operating in a band between 3.6 and 4.0 microns
wavelength with a maximum laze duration of 70 seconds. In the past decade its reliability has been
demonstrated by performing over 150 lazing tests in over 3,000 seconds of laze time.
Pulsed Laser
This laser is a closed cycle, electric discharge, pulsed CO2 laser that can deliver moderate to high energy
levels per pulse. It is fully portable, with full-beam diagnostic instrumentation, a 50 cm static beam pointing
telescope and a data acquisition system. In addition, the laser can interface with a precision pointer/tracker.
Low Power Laser
This laser is a low power continuous wave mid-infrared chemical laser that allows experimenters access to
MIRACL-like characteristics at lower costs.
Effects Test Area
The area provides an indoor controlled laboratory test environment for evaluating laser effects on materials
and small components. It includes a strip mirror beam integrator. Diagnostics includes plume and air flow
sampling. Additional diagnostics are available and can be added to support specific customer needs upon
request.
Hazardous Test Area
This area consists of beam relay and shaping optics, diagnostic instrumentation and a test pad surrounded by
earth berms and movable concrete shields. The test pad is rated to withstand a 20,000 pound TNT-equivalent
blast. It is capable of supporting both high and low energy laser effects testing on a wide variety of samples.
Diagnostics performed on the laser beam include calorimetry, scatter plate measurement and beam profile
impressions.
Vacuum Test Chamber
The chamber consists of a stainless steel sphere 50 feet in diameter capable of producing vacuums of 1x10-6
torr for simulation of low earth orbit conditions. It is connected to the MIRACL through a series of optics
and evacuated laser beam pipe. Other capabilities include 25 ton maximum test item weight, a class 100K
clean entry room, color CCTV and high speed filming, and local and remote control rooms.
Point of Contact at WSMR: Mr. Jim Noble
Telephone: Commercial (505) 678-5362
Point of Contact at EPG: Mr. Robert Reiner
Telephone: Commercial (520) 533-8002, FAX (520) 533-8020
e-mail: reinerr@huachuca-emh-16.army.mil
WSMR
DTSE&E