White Papers

  • Ascent Phase Analysis and AMPERES

    Author: S. Enguehard

    We address the physics and technology factors involved in developing and fielding a directed energy ascent phase missile defense system based on an high energy laser on an airborne platform. A comparison with boost-phase intercept is included.

    Request a Copy

Monographs

Selected Publications

Books

  • Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings (Frontiers in Physics)

    Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings (Frontiers in Physics)
    Quantum Field Theory of Point Particles and Strings (Frontiers in Physics)
    Author: Brian Hatfield

    The purpose of this book is to introduce string theory without assuming any background in quantum field theory. Part I of this book follows the development of quantum field theory for point particles, while Part II introduces strings. All of the tools and concepts that are needed to quantize strings are developed first for point particles. Thus, Part I presents the main framework of quantum field theory and provides for a coherent development of the generalization and application of quantum field theory for point particles to strings. Available on AMAZON.com and fine book retailers everywhere.

    AVAILABLE on AMAZON.COM

  • Feynman Lectures on Gravitation

    Feynman Lectures on Gravitation
    Feynman Lectures on Gravitation
    Author: Richard Feynman; Editor: Brian Hatfield

    Based on the in-class lectures of Richard Feynman, this book covers a wide range of topics in physics and provides a window to the thoughts of a brilliant Nobel laureate.

    The Feynman Lectures on Gravitation are based on notes prepared during a course on gravitational physics that Richard Feynman taught at Caltech during the 1962-63 academic year. For several years prior to these lectures, Feynman thought long and hard about the fundamental problems in gravitational physics, yet he published very little. These lectures represent a useful record of his viewpoints and some of his insights into gravity and its application to cosmology, superstars, wormholes, and gravitational waves at that particular time. The lectures also contain a number of fascinating digressions and asides on the foundations of physics and other issues.

    Characteristically, Feynman took and untraditional non-geometric approach to gravitation and general relativity based on the underlying quantum aspects of gravity. Hence, these lectures contain a unique pedagogical account of the development of Einstein’s general relativity as the inevitable result of the demand for a self-consistent theory of a massless spin-2 field (the graviton) coupled to the energy-momentum tensor of matter. This approach also demonstrates the intimate and fundamental connection between gauge invariance and the Principle of Equivalence.

    Available on AMAZON.com

Highlights

  • Segmented Optics PHase Integration (SOPHI)

    Segmented Optics PHase Integration (SOPHI)
    Segmented Optics PHase Integration (SOPHI)

    ​SOPHI is a 100 percent successful segmented optics breadboard which is phased using state of the art optical metrology. While this breadboard was funded by NASA headquarters, the original underlying work was performed with several SBIR’s from MSFC. More on SOPHI coming soon!

    View Online on Nasa.gov

  • The Exact Analytic Solution to Thermal Blooming

    The problem of understanding thermal blooming had plagued high-energy laser (HEL) research since its beginnings. Utilizing advanced wave-front physics, AMP Research scientists were able to find an exact analytic solution to this problem. This solution has been verified both in simulation and on real-world lasers. The results were published in a series of peer-reviewed journals articles.

    Journal of Optical Society of America

    Vol A8, 637

    View the solution on harvard.edu