LRLW (Eralineta)
LRLW - Large Range Laser Weapon
Introduction:
The project of Dr. Malvo and Dr. Kijn of ARMs Optical Combat Divison. LRLW was formed when Lt. Col. Dr. Gavrie called for the group to design a new kind of weapon that had both the ability to defend and attack any enemy in the air, sea or ground within a nearly limitless range. The project was started by Dr. Malvo into researching the base of the technology using fiber optic lasers. ARMs Optical lab outside of Buron was the chosen location for the project to begin.
However the actual history of the LRLW began with fiber and laser technology. Optical fiber was first developed in the Victorian era and only in the 1950’s did it become practical. The evolution of fiber came into use in the 1970’s and have continued on ever since. They function by using total internal reflection to send signals at the speed of light through the core material of the glass fiber. The lasers behind the function of the LRLW are laser diodes that emit light at wavelengths of 1,070 nanometers. They are fed into a fiber which collects all the diodes and produces a single beam of intense light that functions as the weapon.
LRLW Workings
The LRLW is a series of lasers that are combined into one deadly burst of intense light that is capable of burning through any material in its way. The LRLW is made up of many racks of lasers and they each have their own beam. Before a full-power charge the lasers have plenty of smaller outputs and ultimate control uses.
The 10M Laser is a special kind of laser. Drawing its power from up to 100,000~ lasers for a full power blast. It is rare however and much smaller and more compact firings are done. The lasers function in a series of racks. A 10M laser has the opportunity to fire even when badly damaged because of its special mode of operation.
1429 racks of laser racks of 630W output are able to be brought together in any series needed. Though in most cases 21 groups of 71 racks move into a single head and fire, but the option exists to extend all or any number of lasers to the main head for a combined blast.
The 21 subsections using 110 micrometer fiber each have a power of 12,857 watts. Meaning the full charge is not needed to reduce a target to nothing. The ability of the LRLW to scan and track and individually target with its 22 heads is the perfect offensive and defensive capablity of the laser.
How it Works
The Laser Diodes
Collections of very small 9W laser diodes are connected together in large bundles of racks. These racks are seventy sets of 9W Ytterbium fiber lasers operating at the 1070 nm wavelength. Each rack is bundled on top of each other for more power. The size of each diode is smaller then a penny and can collectively send the light into the racks of glass fiber lasers.
The Fiber
The optical fiber used in the laser is higher then your standard 8 micrometer core. The core in order to prevent from literally melting and turning the fiber into molten glass is of 110 micrometers in diameter. It is then wrapped in its buffer and protective layers as normal. This allows for the light to be safetly contained inside the fiber without causing failure.
Focusing
Controlled by two mirrors in each rack that ultimately pools the light together for a single powerful burst the mirrors are electronically controlled. With absolute polarization of 100% down to 5% the mirror can be adjusted for when to release the light in a controlled manner to the next step of the process. This energy is then sent through the mirrors and is focused to the singular point of firing. After it exits the lenses the laser light can be focused as needed to fulfill any request.
Modes
Percussion
A series of high power/high peak pulses delivered in rapid succession that is capable of high speed drilling or drilling on the fly. This means that the laser can be focused and deliver bursts to drill into a material very effectively to accomplish the task. It can also fire and drill while moving.
Steady Drilling
When dealing with high power lasers such as the LRLW the ability to drill through an object is not so much a matter of how deep, but how long it takes to drill through the material of the density. The amount of time for such is listed below.
Operating at just 5000 Watts with a pulse of under 50 milliseconds the laser can cut through steel up to an inch thick with ease.
The LWLR operates at a reasonable 30 Million Watts pulse. The ability to drill through any material known to man is instantly burned through in a single pulse. It vaporizes steel and other heavy metals with ease.
On The Fly
Much like with Percussion drilling, which is largely unnecessary for the LRLW to accomplish its goal, the ability for the laser to move, fire and destroy enemy missiles, ships, or anything within range (and we use the term range to mean the targetting capability of the software) is able to be hit with precise bursts as the laser moves. Of this there is two clear modes that seperate them.
Continueous Drilling
Continueous cutting is a single spread that fires and moves in a line. Perhaps the most straight-forward approach to drilling. When using this mode the laser is a constant steady On or Off on the pulses. This is perhaps the most commonly used one.
Non-Continueous Drilling
When drilling an object that requires many cuts Non-linear cutting is the best choice. The laser makes four cuts instead of one to drill through an object. This is the most dangerous type of drilling that can sheer steel and other objects with ease on a single pass, then make several more passes later to finish drilling. The laser never turns off in this case, but it reduces its power on areas that it is not signalled to cut. It reduces its power to <1% and still emits a very weak beam of radiation, but the electronically controlled head can then be sent back to 100% at any time. This reduces the time in which a series of cuts are needed.
Targeting
The LRLW moves five axises to determine the location for the cut. X, Y, Z, little X, little Y. This ensures that the laser is moving as fast as possible. Since it moves in six directions at any one time it is remarkably fast. The laser can move in a 360 degree movement in under a second through this way. Here's a more detailed description.
Big Y Axis
The Big Y Axis determines height. This is possibly the least used axis, but it was developed for the desire to gain additional speed and ease when firing at targets that need more height to extend the range or fire over an object.
Little Y Axis
The little Y axis is more useful then the big Y axis because the ability to automatically estimate and fire at a target in an attempt to converge two beams constructively to effectively double the power of the laser on a single focus point.
Big X Axis
Determines the position of the laser on the X-Axis. This does nothing of importance like the Big Y axis unless it is paired with the Little X or other axises to arrive at a desired point within several milliseconds.
Little X Axis
The little X axis is more useful then the big X axis because the ability to automatically estimate and fire at a target in an attempt to converge two beams constructively to effectively double the power of the laser on a single focus point.
Big Z Axis
The axis that controls the laser that is most useful. This axis allows for quick movements on a fraction of a degree. This Z axis is combined with the X and Y axis and little Z axis to ensure that the fastest response is possible by the laser to the target.
Little Z Axis
The most important axis of them all. This controls the minute details of the laser. Able to work effectively down to seconds of a degree it is able to ensure highly accurate and detailed pinpoint precision at an amazing range of over 100 miles. The laser is capable of spotting, recognizing and burning a hole in the eyes of a one dollar bill taped onto a wall from over 100 miles within a second of identification as a target by the computer. All 21 smaller heads have Little Z axis's of their own to target. While slower they are able to move as needed with precision and split-second adjustments to their intended targets.
Merits
The LRLW is 26% efficent in terms of power to electrical power generation. It has a M of 1.40. Citing amazing quality of the beam. The laser is relatively maintaince free. There is no poisonous gas emissions or massive capacitors to store the energy. The size of each set of racks is about twice as large as a small refrigerator. The laser diodes have a lifetime of <100,000 hours. They infact get better as they've been used longer on the average. Expected to not need maintaince for 10 years, in which costs are under 15% of the entire unit.
