High-energy laser detection through thermoelectric generators

Abstract

Detection of high-energy laser strikes is key to the survivability of military assets in future warfare. The introduction of laser weapon systems demands the capability to quickly detect these strikes without disrupting the stealth capability of military craft with active sensing technologies. We explored the use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) as self-powered passive sensors to detect such strikes. Experiments were conducted using lasers of various power ratings, wavelengths, and beam sizes to strike 2 × 2 cm 2 commercially available TEGs arranged in different configurations. Open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current responses of TEGs struck with 808-, 1070-, and 1980-nm lasers at irradiance levels between 8.5 and 509.3 W∕cm 2 and spot sizes between 2 and 8 mm are compared. TEG surface temperatures indicate that the sensor can survive temperatures nearing 400°C. TEG open-circuit voltage magnitudes correlate more strongly with net incident laser power than with specific irradiance levels, and linearity is limited by Seebeck coefficient variation with temperature. Open-circuit voltage responses are characterized by 10% to 90% rise times of ∼2 to 10 s despite surface temperatures not reaching equilibrium. With open-circuit voltage as the sensing parameter, detection thresholds three times above the standard deviation noise level can be exceeded within 300 ms of the start of a laser strike with irradiance levels of ∼200 W∕cm 2. Potential harvested power levels as high as 16 mW are estimated based on measured electrical responses. A multiphysics finite-element model corresponding to the experiments was developed to further optimization of a lightweight, lowprofile TEG sensor for detection of high-energy laser strikes. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

Recent Advances in the Nanomaterials, Design, Fabrication Approaches of Thermoelectric Nanogenerators for Various Applications

“…One of the most promising applications of metal oxide-based thin-film TENG devices is self-powered sensor systems dealing with high physical and thermal stress. Merkel et al [112] tested a commercially available Al 2 O 3 plated TEG device for its ability to detect high-energy lasers that created surface temperatures up to 673 K. A Peltier module from CUI Devices, CP60240, was bombarded with laser light with different powers and wavelengths to induce a detectable current response. The wavelength of the laser determined the lifespan of the TEG sensor before sensor failure, indicated by the sudden decrease in open-circuit voltage (OCV) for the 1980 nm laser but not the 1070 nm laser.…”