N152-121   TITLE:  Compact Air-cooled Laser Modulate-able Source (CALMS)

TECHNOLOGY AREAS:  Sensors

ACQUISITION PROGRAM:  Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)) / PMA272 ATAPS PE 064272N

TAIRCM

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals

(FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with section 5.4.c.(8) of the solicitation. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. 

OBJECTIVE:  Develop an air-cooled, compact laser source with selectable multi-line emission in the ultraviolet (UVA) portion of the spectrum that is scalable in power and able to change modulation state quickly, upon command, from continuous wave to 10 kHz.

DESCRIPTION:  Today, flexible compact laser sources in the UVA (315 nm - 400 nm) are not available for lab/field testing or other military applications. Technology solutions to this problem are needed in several key areas: 1) increasing the output power of individual laser modules operating in the UVA spectrum, 2) developing the capability to efficiently combine the outputs of multiple laser modules into a single optical fiber for delivery to an optical pointer, and 3) combining these technologies into a compact system package that is suitable for applications with severe size and weight constraints. State of the art off the shelf diode lasers in this band are 250 mW or less. The ideal system design would be able to accommodate 3 or more lines anywhere within the UVA band, provide greater than 3W power output, be electronically driven from an external pulse source (1-100% duty cycle pulses), permit 2 to 3 orders of magnitude amplitude control, quickly switch between waveforms (DC thru 10kHz), and couple to a 100 micron core fiber output.

PHASE I:  Formulate and develop a UVA laser system concept that can accommodate three or more lines anywhere within the UVA band, provide greater than 3W power output, be electronically driven from an external pulse source (1-100% duty cycle pulses), permit 2 to 3 orders of magnitude amplitude control, quickly switch between waveforms (DC thru 10kHz), and couple to a 100 micron core fiber output. If the laser is not truly continuous wave, then pulse repetition frequencies of greater than 100 kHz and pulse widths greater than 10ns are required. The volume of the full system shall not exceed 75 cubic inches. The system concept needs to specify all pertinent design details and explain why all materials chosen are believed to be suitable and capable of meeting the desired specifications. A detailed test plan must be developed explaining how a prototype would be validated during Phase II. The Phase I effort will not require access to classified information. If need be, data of the same level of complexity as secured data will be provided to support Phase I work. 

PHASE II:  Upon successful completion of Phase I, the Phase I design will be built and validated using the test plan developed in Phase I. The Phase II effort may require access to classified information. If as a result of the firm's proposed effort access to classified data is required during Phase II, the small business will need to be prepared to obtain appropriate personnel and facility certification for secure data access.

PHASE III:  The product is expected to transition into military systems. The system could be integrated into existing systems or future developmental programs.

REFERENCES:  

1.                Ultraviolet light progress in semiconductor - UV optical sources benefits security and defense. By John Carrano, Asif Khan, Michael Kneissl, Noble Johnson, Geoffrey Wilson, and Richard DeFreez.

Oemagazine, 31 June 2003, SPIE Newsroom. DOI: 10.1117/2.5200306.0004. http://spie.org/x15968.xml

2.                Tech Notes Lincoln Laboratory MIT 2012, Wavelength Beam-Combined Laser Diode Arrays http://www.ll.mit.edu/publications/technotes/TechNote_beamcombining.pdf

3.                Laser Focus World, ‘Making direct laser diodes shine more brightly.’ Hecht, Jeff. Source: Laser Focus World. Mar2013, Vol. 49 Issue 3, p39-42. 3p.

Http://teradiode.com/files/2012/11/TeraDiode_LFW_1206_reprint.pdf

4.                Laser Focus World, ‘Beam combining cranks up the power’, Laser Focus World; June 2 012, Vol. 48 Issue 6, p50.

5.                N. Johnson, "UV Nitride Semiconductor Lasers," in CLEO: 2013, OSA Technical Digest (online) (Optical Society of America, 2013), paper ATh3N.4.

6.                Spectral beam combining of a broad-stripe diode laser array in an external cavity Optics Letters, Vol. 25 Issue 6, pp.405-407 (2000) Daneu, V; Sanchez, A; Fan, T Y; Choi, H K; Turner, G W; Cook.

KEYWORDS:  Ultraviolet lasers; Spectral Beam Combining; Coherent Beam Combining; Fiber Coupled; Low SWAP; CW; Pulsed

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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