This paper presents a non-lethal concept using an innovative directed energy pulser for counter-personnel and crowd
control. A high power pulsed electrical discharge, initiated using a wire in air, simultaneously generates a loud acoustic
report and a bright light pulse. A reflector directs and focuses the 'flash/bang' to deliver high intensity pulses at range.
The counter-personnel and crowd control effect is variable through both the intensity of each pulse and the pulse
repetition rate. The system can be battery powered, and man portable or mounted on a jeep or other vehicle.
This 'air sparker' is different from existing flash-bang approaches which employ a chemical reaction from a 'grenade',
and different from laser approaches that generate a plasma in the vicinity of the targeted personnel. A design example
using quantitative laboratory measurements, and reflector design and modeling, exhibits the output potential of air
sparkers. Using generic non-lethal effects available in the open literature, the design example indicates that air sparker
technology may have widespread non-lethal applicability. New sparker technology can lead to compact efficient
systems. Development of air sparkers for non-lethal counter-personnel and crowd control should address both the
technology and the combined effects.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.