SBIR-STTR Award

Spark igniter system failures are a leading cause of gas turbine engine removal from aircraft. To insure relight in the event of engine shutdown at altitude, a high-voltage, high-energy spark is required. The igniter is eroded by each discharge, limiting its lifetime under normal operating conditions. Frequent engine startups shorten the igniter life. Nova Photonics, Inc proposes a laser ignition system to replace existing electrical spark systems. The igniter is based on a passively Q-switched solid state laser.

Keywords:
gas turbine engine, gas turbine engine, automobile, ignition, LASER, Spark

High-data rate communication with undersea objects is desirable at speed and depth, and it has long been recognized that lasers in the blue-green portion of the electromagnetic spectrum are the most viable option for penetration of seawater. In order to optimize signal-to-noise in daylight conditions the optimal wavelengths to work at is one of the Fraunhofer bands in the blue-green where the solar irradiance is lower. The proposed solution is based on a diode pumped solid state laser that is very efficient. The outcome of this project is anticipated to be a robust and stable laser design and demonstration that can operate at 518.36 nm. It will be tunable over a narrow wavelength range centered about 518.36 nm that meets the project objectives.