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US: New technique for scattering laser light on aircraft windscreens

Researchers at Lewis University, near Chicago, are investigating the use of liquid crystals embedded between glass to block or scatter up to 95 percent of laser light. The goal is to have a windscreen that will turn opaque only where laser light is illuminating the glass; the remainder of the windscreen will remain transparent.

The research was presented by Jason Keleher, Ph.D. and research assistant Daniel Maurer on March 31 2019 at an American Chemical Society meeting in Orlando, Florida. Here is a summary:

"To develop their new approach, the researchers took advantage of liquid crystals -- materials with properties between those of liquids and solid crystals that make them useful in electronic displays. The team placed a solution of liquid crystals called N-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-butylaniline (MBBA) between two 1-inch-square panes of glass. MBBA has a transparent liquid phase and an opaque crystalline phase that scatters light. By applying a voltage to the apparatus, the researchers caused the crystals to align with the electrical field and undergo a phase change to the more solid crystalline state.


Liquid crystals sandwiched between two1-inch squares of glass (left images) scatter green and blue light on a wall when the cells are triggered by laser illumination (right images). Image credit: Daniel Maurer, Lewis University


"The aligned crystals blocked up to 95 percent of red, blue and green beams, through a combination of light scattering, absorption of the laser's energy and cross-polarization. The liquid crystals could block lasers of different powers, simulating various distances of illumination, as well as light shone at different angles onto the glass.

"In addition, the system was fully automatic: A photoresistor detected laser light and then triggered the power system to apply the voltage. When the beam was removed, the system turned off the power, and the liquid crystals returned to their transparent, liquid state. "We only want to block the spot where the laser is hitting the windshield and then have it quickly go back to normal after the laser is gone," Keleher notes. The rest of the windshield, which was not hit by the laser, would remain transparent at all times.

"Now that the researchers have shown that their approach works, they plan to scale it up from 1-inch squares to the size of an entire aircraft windshield. Initial results have shown that a sensor grid pattern on 2-inch squares of glass will respond only to the section of glass that is illuminated. The team is also testing different types of liquid crystals to find even more efficient and versatile ones that return to the transparent state more quickly once the laser is removed."
  

At an April 1 2019 press conference, Keleher said the on-off cycle takes about 1-2 seconds, meaning the pilot is exposed for a brief interval before the liquid crystal goes fully dark. In response to a question about what a pilot would experience during the "on" delay, Keleher said "There might be a nuisance view, but not necessarily a disturbing view to the eye."

Another question had to do with how much polarization of the beam influences the amount of blocking or scattering.

The photos below show three different laser colors (first column) being directed through the liquid crystal cell (second column). Maximum voltage is applied to the cell in the third and fourth columns. The only difference in the fourth column is that the cell has been turned 90 degrees. Because liquid crystals "line up" or polarize light, their effect on light passing through the cell depends on the polarization of the incoming light.
   

    

This laboratory test shows that polarization of the incoming laser beam is an important factor in how much scattering occurs. In a real-world laser beam aimed at an aircraft, the polarization would not be known, or would be random.

At the press conference, Keleher said that by using different liquid crystals, this effect could be reduced so there would be more consistent scattering regardless of the incoming beam polarization.

Keleher and Maurer also showed a photo demonstrating how the windscreen could be divided into 2-inch zones. Below is a liquid crystal cell with wires separating it into four areas. In the right-hand photo, quadrant 4 has been individually addressed to scatter light while the other three quadrants remain transparent.
   



According to Keleher, the wires used to make up the grid are as thin as defrosting wires, and are essentially invisible in use. Also, detection of the incoming laser light and color is done at each cell, using tiny sensors that also are essentially invisible.

From EurekaAlert, Science Codex and Phys.Org. A video of the press conference is at YouTube (start at 1:03). For more information, Dr. Jason Keleher can be contacted via email. The first part of his address is keleheja, then the at-symbol, then lewisu dot edu.