N131-042 TITLE: Multi-Function Mid-wave/Long Wave Infrared Laser

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PEO IWS 2.0, Above Water Sensors

OBJECTIVE: Develop a dual band mid-wave (MW) and long wave (LW) infrared (IR) laser with 10-20 Watts output power and two pulse repetition frequency (PRF) modes of operation.

DESCRIPTION: A multi-band, multifunction IR laser is required to counter non-imaging and imaging IR guided anti-ship missiles (ASM) as demonstrated in numerous field tests (ref 1). The current pulsed laser technology (ref. 2-3) offers separate laser systems optimized for each wavelength band (ref. 2-3) and a single PRF or a narrow range of PRFs. This means the Navy would need multiple lasers to counter the threat in a large, complex, and costly system that will complicate installation and affordability issues for shipboard applications, thus improving performance and capability. While high power pump lasers and emerging nonlinear optical materials are available as described in references 2-3, an innovative laser design that will enable laser operation in two PRF modes sequentially with mode switching time under 1 second is required to overcome the aforementioned limitations of current laser technologies and reduce the number of (up to) four IR lasers to a single source. Major technical challenges in this new laser design include efficient laser operation in two distinctly different PRFs, maintaining efficient wavelength conversions in the higher PRF mode and avoiding crystal damage in the lower PRF mode.

Innovative laser architecture is needed to meet the multi-band, high power, and multi-PRF requirements. Wavelength flexibility within both MW (3.5-5 micron) and LW (7.5-9.5 micron) bands is required. A minimum of two different wavelengths with high atmospheric transmission in each of the IR bands (MW and LW) is required with more flexible wavelength tuning within the MW and LW bands being highly desired. The two PRFs required for sequential operation are 10-20 kHz and >500 kHz. Robust, high reliability operation with minimal maintenance is required. Highly monolithic waveguide based solutions are desired although hybrid and alternative approaches will be considered. The technology developed under this topic will eventually support development of a ruggedized field unit and potentially an operationally deployed system.

It should be noted that the two PRF modes are not required to operate simultaneously but switching between modes must be selectable in the field by user command with less than 1 second switching time. Also, simultaneous operation in the two separate bands is not required but again switching between modes must be selectable in the field by user command with less than 1 second switching time.

The Navy is seeking to develop and evaluate laser system technology that can be scaled to meet the requirements for a field unit. A key part of the program will be the brassboard unit in which feasibility can be established for a prototype unit to be tested in the field.

The key to brassboard effort is to demonstrate multi-mode and multiple band operation at power levels that can be scaled to field unit goals of 10 � 20 watts. The brassboard does not need to implement commandable electronic switching between operation modes nor wavelength bands. However, the effort must include the design for a robust switching mechanism. Detailed analysis, and laboratory evaluation needs to be developed to demonstrate a clear path to achieve the field unit requirements. The scalable areas to be addressed are wavelength conversion pump source power scaling, wavelength conversion material power handling capability, and approach to handle the wide pulse repetition factor.

PHASE I: The company will develop concepts for a multi-function MW/LW IR laser that meet the requirements described above. The company will demonstrate the feasibility of the concepts in meeting Navy needs and will establish that the concepts can be feasibly developed into a useful product for the Navy. Feasibility will be established by material testing and analytical modeling. The small business will provide a Phase II development plan with performance goals and key technical milestones, and that will address technical risk reduction.

PHASE II: Based on the results of Phase I and the Phase II development plan, the small business will develop a scaled prototype for evaluation as appropriate. The prototype will be evaluated to determine its capability in meeting the performance goals defined in Phase II development plan and the Navy requirements for the multi-function MW/LW IR laser. System performance will be demonstrated through prototype evaluation and modeling or analytical methods over the required range of parameters including numerous deployment cycles. Evaluation results will be used to refine the prototype into an initial design that will meet Navy requirements. The company will prepare a Phase III development plan to transition the technology to Navy use.

PHASE III: If Phase II is successful, the company will be expected to support the Navy in transitioning the technology for Navy use. The company will develop a Multi-Function Dual IR Band Laser prototype for evaluation to determine its effectiveness in an operationally relevant environment. The company will support the Navy for test and validation to certify and qualify the system for Navy use.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Both the military and commercial sectors can use advanced high power multi-function, multi-band laser sources for remote sensing of toxic chemical species for troop and civilian protection applications. This will have applications in base protection as well as homeland security, and urban police activities. Additionally, it is anticipated the multi-mode operation will be of use in remote earth science applications for crop, soil, and geo-resource sciences and monitoring for NASA and commercial entities. Finally, the high power variable modulation format sources can be used in scientific applications for determination of high-resolution spectroscopic dynamic processes in chemical reactions for medical and chemical processing activities.

REFERENCES:
1. Lum, Z, "Summer Sees Shipboard EW Stirrings." Journal of Electronic Defense, Sep 1995.

2. Dubinskii, Mark and Wood, Gary "Thulium Fiber Laser-Pumped Mid-IR OPO." Proc SPIE 6952, 69520S (2008); <http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.775196>.

3. Creeden, Daniel, et al "Mid-Infrared ZnGeP2 Parametric Oscillator Directly Pumped by a Pulsed 2 um Tm-Doped Fiber Laser." Optics Letters, Vol 33, No. 4, Feb 2008.

KEYWORDS: Flexible wavelength tuning laser; multi-function laser; multi-band laser; mid wave IR; long-wave IR; multi-pulse repetition frequency

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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