Pulsed lasers mean fast mine spotting

17 Jun 2002

Capturing images of a nuclear detonation's first microseconds was accomplished by extremely high-speed electronic cameras that sent a signal "uphole" just ahead ofthe damaging shock wave and radiation. The imaging elements in the cameras are the familiar silicon-based detectors that convert light into an electric chargeregistered by individual pixels. The charge levels in each pixel form a pattern of the final image.

Now this technology is helping the military detect mines in the water. A pulsed laser mounted along with the fast-imaging camera system in an airplane can rapidlyimage large areas using the reflected laser light. Within a matter of seconds, these images are transmitted from the airplane to a waiting ship or other remote locationwhere the image can be analyzed for possible mine fields.