Study of the shock wave effects to the laser transmission at the supersonic speed

Abstract

Pulse infrared laser launched by the prepositional laser fuse system reaches the target first. Laser echo pulse signal then arrive the surface of photodiode laser detection receiver, and penetrates through the boundary layer - shear layer - shock wave - atmosphere - shock wave - shear layer - boundary layer under supersonic velocity, finally, focuses on the photosensitive surface. As shock wave has an effect on the prepositional laser fuse in the optical path, a great deviation has been brought between distance determining methods on static state and in the course of the actual flight. In this paper, a model of the shock wave's influence on the prepositional laser fuse's optical distance under supersonic velocity is presented. Based on a certain projectile, the optical path difference is analyzed. The optical path differences under different projectile velocities are figured out with the MATLAB software, which will provide a feasible error analysis method for the exploration of laser fuse or laser weapon under supersonic velocity.