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High Energy, High Repetition Rate, non-chirped pulse amplification (CPA), Ultra Short Pulsed Laser (USPL) Systems
Navy SBIR 2016.1 - Topic N161-063 ONR - Ms. Lore-Anne Ponirakis - loreanne.ponirakis@navy.mil Opens: January 11, 2016 - Closes: February 17, 2016 N161-063 TITLE: High Energy, High Repetition Rate, non-chirped pulse amplification (CPA), Ultra Short Pulsed Laser (USPL) Systems TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Materials/Processes, Sensors, Weapons ACQUISITION PROGRAM: ONR Code 35: Solid State Laser (SSL) Tech Maturation and High Energy Laser 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 robust, high pulse energy (10mJ-100mJ), high repetition rate (>1 kHz repetition rate), ultra-short pulse (<1 ps) laser amplifier system operating at a near-infrared (NIR) or mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) wavelength that employs a non-chirped pulse amplification architecture. DESCRIPTION: High peak-power (gigawatt – terawatt class) lasers with kHz-class repetition rates have applicability for a variety of defense and commercial applications. Among other things, Ultra Short Pulsed Lasers (USPLs) are attractive due to their ability to produce laser radiation that can ablate matter without depositing large quantities of heat. Provided that the average laser power is low enough that accumulated heat is negligible, efficient material removal without heat affected zones can be achieved with relatively modest pulse energies (microjoules/pulse). However, if long range propagation is involved or, in the case of a manufacturing facility where pulse energy splitting is used to feed multiple machining heads, multi-mJ laser systems are necessary. At these pulse energies, more exotic effects such as Kerr self-focusing and non-linear optical frequency conversion processes (higher harmonic generation, X-ray generation, etc.) could also be leveraged for potential applications. For these processes to be relevant, pulse lengths less than 500 fs are typically required. Existing laser systems that can achieve this level of performance (multi-mJ pulse energy, kHz repetition rate, sub-picosecond pulse length) rely on chirped pulse amplification architectures (CPA). This type of architecture begins with a very low energy (pico- to – micro-joules), ultrashort (10’s – 100’s of femtoseconds) pulse, which is then significantly temporally stretched (100’s of picoseconds to several nanoseconds), amplified to higher pulse energies (micro- to milli-joules), and then recompressed to ultrashort durations. This technique is well known and forms the basis of most, if not all, high peak power USPL systems. Unfortunately, these types of systems have significant limitations, especially as it applies to the stretching and compressing stages of the laser system. Ongoing research and development efforts exist that seek to improve the performance of these components. On the other hand, non-CPA based amplification techniques have been theorized, modeled in the scientific literature, and in some cases demonstrated in laboratory settings. However, these techniques have yet to be pursued to any significant extent, particularly in a manner that emphasizes the full systems engineering approach needed to transition to practical applications. Non-CPA based techniques are intriguing and represent a fundamental shift away from the traditional USPL system architecture. A non-CPA bases USPL system could revolutionize the entire industry and enable laser products that are amenable to installation in a military platform. PHASE I: Phase I activities should focus on fully developing the design, architecture, and composition of the proposed conceptual laser and amplifier system as well as providing sufficient evidence to support the feasibility of the proposed concept. Evidence of feasibility may include results from theoretical models, but should preferably include experimental results or initial laboratory demonstrations of key technological elements. Theoretical models used to illustrate and support feasibility should be directly relevant to the key technological issues of the proposed concept. The proposed conceptual design should show how the proposers will produce a prototype non-CPA based, compact, USPL system that can generate pulses with greater than 10 mJ per pulse, greater than 1 kHz repetition rate, and less than 500 fs pulse duration at a NIR wavelength (1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 microns). Notional system, subsystem, and component functional and technical specifications should be identified and any critical interface requirements between the subsystems should also be defined and explained. The prototype design should provide compelling evidence that the final product will be compact and robust in adverse environments. PHASE II: Phase II activities will further define the design developed in Phase I and then execute the prototype system fabrication, construction, and integration activities that lead to the completion of a USPL prototype system that achieves the specifications identified in Phase I to be delivered to the Navy for evaluation. Detailed design activities should include maturation and finalization of the full system, subsystem, and component specifications such that procurement of hardware can be accomplished and the prototype system can be assembled, tested, demonstrated, and delivered at the conclusion of Phase II. As described in the plan for Phase II that was developed in Phase I, the Phase II activities should include regular design reviews with the government program manager and development milestones which provide evidence of progress towards the technical specifications of the critical subsystems and components necessary to complete the construction of a prototype system meeting the program goals. In addition to producing a deliverable hardware prototype, a final technical data package that includes design drawings and descriptions, subsystem and component specifications, interface descriptions and definitions, and operating instructions for the prototype will be produced and delivered. PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Phase III activities will include the development and execution of a plan to manufacture a production-level USPL system based on the Phase II prototype and assist in the engineering, integration, and testing of the production level system into existing or future Naval combatant vessels, systems, test vehicles, or test ranges. The contractor will pursue commercialization of the various technologies and components developed in Phase II for potential commercial uses. The technology being developed in this topic is likely to find synergy within the scientific, nanotechnology manufacturing, and homeland defense communities. REFERENCES: 1. J-C. Diels and W. Rudolph, Ultrashort Laser Pulse Phenomena, Academic Press (1996). 2. W. Koechner, Solid-State Laser Engineering, 5th ed, Springer Press, 1999. 3. J. Tümmler, R. Jung et al., Opt. Lett. 34, 1378 (2009). 4. D. Mueller, S. Erhard, and A. Giesen, in Advanced Solid-State Lasers, C. Marshall, ed., Vol. 50 of OSA Trends in Optics and Photonics (Optical Society of America, 2001), paper MF2. 5. C. Stolzenburg and A. Giesen, in Advanced Solid-State Photonics, OSA Technical Digest Series (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2007), paper MA6. 6. Mitrofanov, A. V., et al. "Mid-infrared laser filaments in the atmosphere." Scientific reports 5 (2015). KEYWORDS: USPL; lasers; ultra-short pulsed lasers; laser development; chirped pulse amplification; CPA TPOC-1: Ryan Hoffman Email: ryan.hoffman@navy.mil TPOC-2: Gerald Manke II Email: gerald.manke@navy.mil TPOC-3: Jason Auxier Email: jason.auxier@nrl.navy.mil TPOC-4: Michael Helle Email: mike.helle@nrl.navy.mil Questions may also be submitted through DoD SBIR/STTR SITIS website.
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