Numerical simulation of aero-optical thermal blooming effects on laser propagation through an inner channel

WEI Zexuan; XU Heyong

doi:10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0156

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Numerical simulation of aero-optical thermal blooming effects on laser propagation through an inner channel

更新时间：2026-05-28

- Numerical simulation of aero-optical thermal blooming effects on laser propagation through an inner channel
- Vol. 43, Issue 6, Pages: 18-27(2025)
- 作者机构：
  
  1. 西北工业大学航空学院,西安,710072
  2. 飞行器基础布局全国重点实验室,西安,710072
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
- DOI：10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0156
  CLC： V211;O355
- Published：2025
- 稿件说明：
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魏泽轩, 许和勇. 激光内通道传输的气动光学热效应数值模拟[J]. 空气动力学学报, 2025, 43(6): 18−27.

WEI Zexuan, XU Heyong. Numerical simulation of aero-optical thermal blooming effects on laser propagation through an inner channel[J]. 2025, 43(6): 18-27.
魏泽轩, 许和勇. 激光内通道传输的气动光学热效应数值模拟[J]. 空气动力学学报, 2025, 43(6): 18−27. DOI： 10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0156

WEI Zexuan, XU Heyong. Numerical simulation of aero-optical thermal blooming effects on laser propagation through an inner channel[J]. 2025, 43(6): 18-27. DOI： 10.7638/kqdlxxb-2024.0156.

摘要

激光光束在从激光器出口到发射系统出口这一段内部通道中传输时，气体吸收激光能量，使内通道中流场的温度和密度产生不均匀变化，导致了波前相位畸变及远场光束质量的降低。为了分析此类问题，本文建立了流场与光场相耦合的气动光学热效应研究框架，对圆直管道内的热效应问题进行数值模拟研究，采用泽尼克多项式拟合波前畸变，结合自适应光学校正分析了畸变水平及其对远场光强特性的影响。结果表明，无自适应光学校正时，通光0.5 s内热效应导致的波前畸变极为严重，当管道半径与光束半径之比大于1.5时则能够有效减轻热效应；采用自适应光学校正则能将波前畸变降低70%左右，同时也能大幅提高光束的远场光强及聚焦性能。因此，控制激光传输通道几何参数与采用自适应光学校正是抑制热效应的有效途径。

Abstract

One of the primary challenges in developing higher-power laser systems is the aero-optical thermal blooming effect that occurs during laser beam propagation through the inner channel. This effect refers to the phase distortion and degradation of far-field beam quality due to the uneven changes in temperature and density of the flow field within the channel as the gas medium absorbs the laser's energy. Currently

there is still a lack of high-accuracy and systematic coupling numerical simulation method for the study of the thermal effect. In this study

thermal blooming effect was calculated and analyzed based on the research framework of the coupling of light field and flow field. Differences between the geometric ray tracing method and the linear integration method in calculating the wavefront distortion were compared

which proved that the approximate treatment of beam’s rectilinear propagation can be used to deal with the case discussed. The wavefront distortion was fitted by Zernike polynomial

and the distortion level and its influence on far-field intensity characteristics were analyzed in combination with adaptive optical correction. The results indicated that without adaptive optical correction

significant wavefont distortion developed within 0.5 seconds and increased approximately linearly with time. Matintaining the ratio of pipe radius to beam radius greater than 1.5 can effectively reduce the thermal blooming effect. Adaptive optical correction reduced wavefront distortion by about 70%. The affects of phase modulation from inner-channel wavefront distortion and far-field transmission led to substantial light intensity reduction and spot diffusion over long propagation distances without improvement measures. Adaptive optical correction can signifingntly improve far field beam quality. Therefore

optimization of laser transmission channel geometry and adaptive optics correction are effective approoches to reduce the thermal effect.

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references

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