Free Electron Laser

What Is It?

Free Electron Laser (FEL) provides naval platforms with a highly effective and aff ordable point defense capability against surface and air threats, future anti-ship cruise missiles or swarms of small boats. Utilization of FEL also allows an unlimited magazine with speed-of light delivery.

How Does It Work?

FEL generates high-intensity laser light by utilizing the energy from unbound accelerated high-energy electrons. This technology is commonly used in the Department of Energy’s particle colliders for basic subatomic research. The FEL program is an investment by the Office of Naval Research to transition the accelerator technology from particle colliders to a future ship self-defense weapon system. 

What Will It Accomplish?

FEL will equip U.S. ships that have high depth-of-fire with speed-of-light delivery, seconds dwell time and a deep magazine for a more powerful means of self-defense. It is a revolutionary weapon that will transform how the Navy fights future battles.

The Free Electron Laser (FEL) weapon system will provide U.S. ships with speed-of-light fire capability for a range of missions and threats, a key element of a future future shipboard layered defense.

An Innovative Naval Prototype program for the FEL technology began in 2010. It will demonstrate scalability of the necessary FEL physics and  engineering for an eventual megawatt-class device. The program will focus on the design, development, fabrication, integration and test of a 100-kilowatt class FEL device. Future needs for ship integration and beam control are being considered.

This revolutionary technology provides multiple payoffs to the warfighter. The ability to control the frequency of the laser beam allows for operation in the maritime environment. The variability of the beam strength provides graduated lethality with minimum collateral damage and a low cost per engagement when compared to the projectile and logistics support costs of conventional explosive munitions. Against low
value targets it is an effective alternative to the use of expensive missile systems. The FEL provides speed of light and precision engagement  of both high speed, sophisticated anti-ship missles, as well as swarming, slow speed, unsophisticated small craft.

Research Opportunities:

  • FEL weapons
  • Injectors
  • Accelerators
  • Amplifier/oscillator designs
  • Beam control
  • Modeling and simulation
  • Scalability

Quentin Saulter
quentin.saulter@navy.mil
(703) 696-2594

 

* Some pages on this website provide links which require Adobe Reader to view.