Part of our background is working with directed energy (DE) systems with a goal of scaling to sufficiently larger powers and baselines using a MOPA design to allow photonic propulsion of small spacecraft to achieve relativistic speeds. We have published a number of technical papers on this subject in our research group at UC Santa Barbara. See our links and papers below for a better understanding of this technology and the radical consequences that will come from it.
DE Applications
See our many technical papers under Projects/Technical Papers
Directed Energy Propulsion for Relativistic Flight
Relevant research links to our UC Santa Barbara group:
NASA programs
www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/projects/directed-energy-interstellar-precursors
Overview paper – “A Roadmap to Interstellar Flight” – Lubin 2015
Video Interview with TIME Magazine – Nov 7, 2015
Time – Inside the Plan to go to the Stars
February 2016 – NASA 360 Video on Interstellar NIAC Results
NASA – DEEP-IN Webpage
https://www.facebook.com/FollowNASA360/videos
Video from NASA 360
Audio Interview with the Tennessee Valley Interstellar Workshop February 2016
Directed Energy for Planetary Defense
At UC Santa Barbara we have done work on directed energy planetary defense since 2009. We have performed numerous laboratory measurements to test the effectiveness of directed energy planetary defense and published a large number of articles on the results. This technique is unique in that it can be operated without physically taking the system to the threat. This is known as a stand-off mode and allows the future possibility of complete planetary defense.
Relevant research links to our UC Santa Barbara group:
www.deepspace.ucsb.edu/projects/directed-energy-planetary-defense
Directed Energy for Space Debris Mitigation