Millimetre Waves, Lasers, Acoustics.pdf

Millimetre Waves, Lasers, Acoustics

for Non-Lethal Weapons?

Physics Analyses and Inferences

Jürgen Altmann

Kontakt:

Deutsche Stiftung Friedensforschung (DSF)

Am Ledenhof 3-5

D-49074 Osnabrück

Fon: +49.(0)541.600.35.42

Fax: +49.(0)541.600.79.039

www.bundesstiftung-friedensforschung.de

info@bundesstiftung-friedensforschung.de

Jürgen Altmann

Experimentelle Physik III

Technische Universität Dortmund

D-44221 Dortmund

Germany

Tel. +49.(0)231.755.3520, 3513

altmann@e3.physik.uni-dortmund.de

Gestaltung, Satz und Herstellung: atelier-raddatz.de und DSF

Druck: Günter Druck GmbH, Georgsmarienhütte

Printed in Germany 2008

Spendenkonto der Deutschen Stiftung Friedensforschung:

Sparkasse Osnabrück, Konto-Nr. 1230, BLZ 265 501 05

Table of Contents

page

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................5

Zusammenfassung..............................................................................................................8

Introduction ..............................................................................................................11

1.1

Rising Interest in Non-Lethal Weapons .................................................................11

1.2

Structure of the Report ..........................................................................................13

2. Active Denial System (ADS) ....................................................................................14

2.1 Research and Development, Status ......................................................................14

2.2 Analysis .................................................................................................................19

2.2.1 Important Features ................................................................................................19

2.2.2 Weapon Properties ................................................................................................26

2.3 Evaluation ..............................................................................................................27

2.3.1 Considerations About Limits ..................................................................................27

2.3.2 Further Research...................................................................................................28

3. Advanced Tactical Laser .........................................................................................29

3.1 Research and Development, Status ......................................................................29

3.2 Analysis .................................................................................................................31

3.2.1 Important Features ................................................................................................31

3.2.2 Weapon Properties ................................................................................................33

3.3 Evaluation ..............................................................................................................34

3.3.1 Considerations About Limits ..................................................................................34

3.3.2 Further Research...................................................................................................35

4. Pulsed Energy Projectile .........................................................................................36

4.1 Research and Development, Status ......................................................................36

4.2 Analysis .................................................................................................................39

4.2.1 Important Features ................................................................................................39

4.2.2 Weapon Properties ................................................................................................41

4.3

Evaluation ..............................................................................................................42

4.3.1 Considerations About Limits ................................................................................. 42

4.3.2 Further Research .................................................................................................. 43

5. Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) ................................................................... 44

5.1 Research and Development, Status ..................................................................... 44

5.2 Analysis................................................................................................................. 48

5.2.1 Important Features................................................................................................ 48

5.2.2 System Properties................................................................................................. 51

5.3 Evaluation ............................................................................................................. 52

5.3.1 Considerations About Limits ................................................................................. 52

5.3.2 Further Research .................................................................................................. 52

Concluding Remarks .............................................................................................. 53

Appendix ........................................................................................................................... 68

Basics of Radiation Quantities and Units, Heating ............................................................. 68

Acronyms............................................................................................................................ 69

DSF-Forschung is published irregularly. The authors alone are responsible for the content

of the publications .

Executive Summary

New technologies of non-lethal weapons (NLW) are under military research and

development, mainly in the USA. Due to incomplete information, judgement under criteria

of the laws of warfare or of human rights is hampered. This study analyses four potential

NLW technologies which are based on physics to provide reliable information for such

assessment.

The Active Denial System (ADS) produces a beam of electromagnetic millimetre waves;

such radiation is absorbed in the upper 0.4 mm of skin. The beam stays approximately 2 m

wide out to many hundreds of metres. With a power of 100 kilowatts, the beam can heat

the skin of target subjects to pain-producing temperature levels within seconds. With a

prototype weapon, mounted in a military multi-purpose vehicle, the effects have been

tested on hundreds of volunteers. In order to produce pain while preventing burn injury, the

power and duration of emission for one trigger event is controlled by a software program.

Model calculations show that with the highest power setting, second- and third-degree

burns with complete dermal necrosis will occur after less than 2 seconds. Even with a

lower setting of power or duration there is the possibility for the operator to re-trigger

immediately.

Collateral damage is not much of a problem. Use in armed conflict would bring much less

injury than flamethrowers which count as legitimate weapons. However, such use is not

very probable because the system is large, needs to be exposed for action and is

vulnerable to many kinds of light weapons. More likely is its use for internal security, by

occupation forces against uprisings etc. Taking into account that the operator may be up to

one km away, in such circumstances overdoses with severe burn injuries could only be

prevented if technical devices would reliably limit the skin temperature, i.e., would limit

beam power or duration depending on target distance and would prevent re-triggering on

the same person before a certain cooling time has passed.

The Advanced Tactical Laser (ATL), to be carried by a transport aircraft, is to emit an

infrared laser beam of 300 kilowatts power, provided from a chemical reaction. Via a 0.5 m

wide transmitting and directing mirror, the beam can be focused – under ideal conditions –

to a spot of 0.1-0.2 m size over 10 km and more. With the 100-fold power of a stove plate

applied over a similar area, wood or textiles would start burning and metal would melt

through after fractions of a second, under usual atmospheric conditions on the order of one

second. Strong turbulence will limit the range, fog, dust or heavy rain can reduce it

markedly. With fuel for about 40 seconds of radiating on board and dwell times below a

second, the beam will often be directed and fired automatically.

The ATL can destroy equipment and kill people, it is not a non-lethal weapon. Its usage in

armed conflict against combatants could be compared with flamethrowers which are

accepted under international humanitarian law. Compared to other means of applying force

at many kilometres distance (artillery, bombs), the ATL would allow much more

discriminating destruction.

The ATL has limitations: the fuel is sufficient only for around 100 “shots”. A clear line of

sight is also needed, preventing action through fog or heavy rain and exposing the carrier

aircraft.

Due to its size, long range and drastic effects, the ATL is not suitable for police. In peace-

enforcing operations it could allow more precise targeting than possible with artillery or

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: