Apparatus for diverting electromagnetic radiation from sensitive optical apparatus

Apparatus is disclosed for protecting delicate sensor optics from the damaging effects of unwanted powerful laser radiation. A thin-film reflective pellicle 14 is placed in the light path of a sensor telescope. Incident light 10 is focused by some combination of optical elements 12 onto the reflective surface 28 of the laser hazard protector 14. The reflected light 10 is then imaged by further optics 16 onto a detector array 18. Should a signal too strong for the detector enter the sensor aperture with the incident light 10, the focused power at the surface of the pellicle 28 will ablate the carbon and metallic film, burning a hole in the pellicle, and the high-power light 11 will be deflected from the detector array and be absorbed instead by the beam dump 20. A power meter within the beam dump determines when the laser threat has stopped and signals the turning mechanisms 15a and 15b to turn the pellicle reflector to a fresh position at which point normal sensor operations may resume. The reflective film for the laser hazard protector has a carbon supporting film placed after the reflective coating. The reflective coating has a uniform broadband absorption to laser light and can protect a sensor from a variety of potential threats. The present invention provides a sensor protection system with an extremely short response time, widband protection, and an unmatched margin of safety.