LASER FOG CLEARANCE

STUDIES SUGGEST THAT IT IS FEASIBLE TO DISSIPATE FOG AND HAZE FROM MAJOR AIRPORT RUNWAYS WITH LASER BEAMS. THE STUDY WAS BASED ON THE SUGGESTION THAT A 10.6 MICRON LASER BEAM SELECTIVELY DEPOSITS ITS ENERGY IN WATER DROPLETS ULTIMATELY EVAPORATING THEM. ENCOURAGING LABORATORY TESTS WERE EXTRAPOLATED TO AIRPORT DIMENSIONS, AND IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT POWER REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE LARGER FOR PRESENT-DAY LASER DEVICES, BUT MAY NOT BE EXCESSIVE WITH FUTHER SYSTEMS. IN A SUGGESTED $1 MILLION AIRPORT INSTALLATION, POWER PLANTS INSTALLED UNDERGROUND ON EACH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WOULD ENERGIZE THE SYSTEM. OUTPUT CARBON DIOXIDE LASER BEAMS WOULD TRAVEL IN DISTRIBUTION TUNNELS, PARALLEL TO AND BELOW THE RUNWAY. REFLECTING MIRRORS AT SEVERAL STATIONS WOULD ALSO EXPAND THE BEAM AND RAPIDLY REDUCE ITS INTENSITY AS IT PASSES THROUGH A GRATING ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.

• Corporate Authors:

  Boeing Scientific Res Labs

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Mullaney, C J
• Publication Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airport runways; Carbon dioxide; Evaporation; Fog dispersal; Laboratory tests; Lasers; Mirrors; Physical distribution; Reflectorized materials
• Uncontrolled Terms: Distribution systems
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00218654
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Washington Science Trends
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 13 1970 12:00AM