| Acquisition Program: | MDA/AS |
Objective: | Develop a compact, solid-state gain medium laser amplifier with excellent beam quality, high energy, high efficiency, and a high damage threshold.
| Description: | Develop a small innovative compact laser high power amplifier for ladar applications. Such an amplifier should exhibit ASE suppression techniques and should explore potential payoff areas such as beam management, scalability, materials, amplifier constructs, multi-pass feasibility and any other applicable innovations. Such a proposed amplifier should be capable of supporting Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) discrimination waveforms. The beam quality must be better than 1.5 D.L. New and innovative approaches and techniques should be explored. This effort should employ new and cutting edge technologies and methodologies with the potential for yielding high payoffs. In the past, high power laser amplifiers have encountered limitations as power levels are increased and laser pulsewidths are decreased. Ceramic laser materials, such as Nd:YAG, Yb:YAG, Nd:YSAG (Nd:Y3ScxAl(5-x)O12), Nd:Y2O3 and Yb:Sc2O3 should be considered since they provide the possibility of improved laser performance. This effort is not limited to the use of ceramic materials. Although the final optical pumping technique desired for this amplifier gain media are high power, solid-state laser diodes, the use of flashlamp pumping (due to the high cost of laser-diode pumping arrays) for initial tests will not be excluded. One goal for the laser amplifier is to have high electrical-to-optical efficiency with minimal thermal loading. The final optimum wavelength for the laser amplifier gain module is TBD. A wavelength of near 1.064 microns is required. Once the ceramic laser amplifier module is developed and optimized, multiple copies of this unit can be fabricated and run in series to provide the required degree of amplification for each different application.
Development Goals:
- Energy extraction capability of > 30 mJ per wavetrain per amplifier module
- >10W average laser power extraction per amplifier module
- Greater than 8% electrical-to-optical conversion efficiency
| | PHASE I: Develop the new technology, show feasibility and estimate the resulting performance improvement over current systems and performance limits by analysis or conceptual laboratory demonstration. Perform sufficient systems study to estimate size and weight and needs for support (power, cooling, beam cleanup and focusing) for a platform. Address what other technologies must be improved in concert in order to achieve the estimated performance gains. Develop a roadmap and a plan to reduce the highest risks in the technology concept. This plan might include design and fabrication of test articles leading to a feasibility demonstration in Phase II. Present a design concept for the test articles.
| | PHASE II: Perform more elaborate analyses and/or tests designed to identify performance characteristics, problems and limitations. Conduct detailed design and fabrication of test article(s). Procure the amplifier laser gain material, fabricate a single (or possibly multiple) gain module(s), and test this unit to determine performance. Vary pump conditions and input waveform to determine gain, bandwidth, and energy extraction capability. Demonstrate applicability of such a high power gain module to selected military and commercial applications.
| | PHASE III: This laser technology will have direct applicability to future MDA and Army laser radar programs. Also, the techniques developed would have applicability for weapon systems on any fixed or mobile surveillance platform or seeker platform with ground, airborne, or space sensing. There are candidate civil and military missions.
| | PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL: The technology developed could be applied to commercial laser systems used for sensing and communications.
| References: |
1: Board Area Announcement (BAA), Small Laser Amplifier for Ladar (SLAL), Posted 2 Jun 2003, Synopsis, Contracts: F33657-03-C-2025, and F33657-03-C-2026.
2: Wisdom, Jeffrey, Michel Digonnet, and Robert L. Byer, “Ceramic Lasers: Ready for
Action”, Photonics Spectra, February 2004 (pages 50 - 56).
| | Keywords: | Solid State Lasers; Ladar; Laser power amplifier; ceramic laser amplifier, Fiber Laser Amplifiers; Slab lasers amplifiers; High Efficiency, Compact Laser; Laser Waveform Generator, Electro-Optic Modulator: Single Mode Low divergence beam; Heterodyne Detection |
Questions and Answers: |
Q: We are in the process of a start-up company in the area of ceramics. Are you considering novel process routes that evaluate many compositions efficiently during stage one? I believe that the compositions are the focus and just wanted to be sure. Second is the testing and characterization of the beams, and comparison.
Is this an ongoing effort and need that you believe will be present in the future? We are considering this area as a core competency and would like to know your opinion, that if it is successful, that the application end will exist.
|
A: This SBIR is looking for innovative technologies that will increase the
ability to build higher power laser amplifiers. There is no predetermined
technology that we are looking for. The emphasis is on innovativeness in
addressing the issues and parameters as stated in the topic write-up and
references. The amplifiers should have good and stable beam quality and
output power levels. There is a need for the types of amplifiers discussed
in this topic and the need will continue to exits and grow. There is always
a need for more power in a smaller package and more efficiency. |
Q: The solicitation description requires that the amplifier support BMDS discrimination waveforms. Where can one find more information about
BMDS waveforms and any implications for amplifier design? The
first reference listed in the solicitation may contain info on this topic, but my repeated attempts to access that page have resulted in errors. Alternatively, is there an approximate target pulsewidth range for extraction of the > 30 mJ from the amplifier?
Also, what are the target input energy levels to the amplifier (ie, what
single-pass gains will be required)? Does the final application envision chaining these amplifiers in series, and if so, what would
be the maximum amplification/ultimate pulse energy required? |
A: The step by step methodology to access reference one in the MDA04-178 SBIR
topic is:
With your internet web browser access URL, http://www.fedbizopps.gov/
Next, click on "find business opportunities"
Then type into Full Test Search: "Small Laser Amplifier for Ladar"
Now, click on "Start Search"
Your search will yield three references:
Reference 1. SLAL contract award notice
Reference 2. SLAL synopsis
Reference 3. SLAL BAA (AL2003-01)
Click on reference 3.
Click on, "Small Laser Amplifier for Ladar Technical Requirements 01"
You may now examine the BAA referenced in MDA04-178
It is felt that being able to examine the BAA will address most of your
questions.
For example, your question, on "BMDS waveforms and any implications for
amplifier design," could be addressed in the following manner: You should
utilize waveforms that will permit target measurements by a ladar at range
resolutions of 20cm and velocity resolutions of 2 cm/s. |
Q: Does the 30 mJ mentioned in the BAA have to be extracted in a single 1 to 20 ns long laser pulse ? If a burst of pulses is acceptable, what are the allowed ranges for pulse rate and number of pulses in the burst ? |
A: No, a pulse burst that also produces an average output greater than 30mj is
also acceptable. Pulse rate ranges and the number of pulses in the pulse
burst are left up to the proposer and should support a 20 cm range at a 2
cm/s velocity resolution requirement.
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