Research on the adversarial effect of directed energy near infrared laser on infrared imaging systems

Infrared imaging system is facing the threat of different confrontation methods such as interference and blindness of directed energy laser. In order to thoroughly investigate the counter-effect of directed near-infrared laser on the infrared imaging system, an analysis of the damage mechanism laser-irradiated infrared optical materials was firstly conducted. A physical model of thermo-mechanical coupling was established, and numerical calculations were performed on the damage process of near-infrared laser with different pulse widths on the infrared optical materials. Damage experiments were conducted using nanosecond laser to verify the results. Finally, the laser damage efficiency was analyzed from the perspectives of material damage morphology and system image quality. The research findings indicate that after being irradiated by near-infrared nanosecond laser, the infrared optical materials exhibit phenomena such as membrane layer shedding, substrate damage, and surface passivation. These phenomena will affect the transmittance and imaging quality of the infrared imaging system.