SBIR-STTR Award

Fixed and rotary winged aircraft require directed infrared counter-measures (DIRCM) systems to self-protect against heat seeking missiles, and the multi-spectral light source used in DIRCM is a key enabling technology and differentiator. A super-continuum (SC) laser is an attractive candidate for the DIRCM light source, but to be efficacious the SC must be capable of being modulated with jamming codes, the wall-plug efficiency of the SC generation must be improved, and the power in each of the DIRCM wavelength bands must be increased. Omni Sciences, Inc. (OSI) has developed a Mid-Infrared Super-continuum Laser (MIRSCL) using fibers and telecom components and that generates broadband, super-continuum covering simultaneously the wavelength range from ~0.8 to ~4.3 microns. To meet the Army DIRCM requirements, the MIRSCL will be modulated to support jamming codes with 25% duty cycle, and the electrical power consumption and heat dissipation will be reduced by modulating the power amplifier pump lasers. In addition, the MIRSCL wall-plug efficiency can be increased by a factor of 2-3X by using a thulium-doped power amplifier to replace the current erbium/ytterbium fiber amplifier. The SC power will be increased and optimized for Band IV–A (3.8-4.3 microns) by using a high-NA ZBLAN fluoride fiber.

Keywords:
Super-Continuum Source, Fiber Laser, Directed Infrared Counter-Measures, Dircm, Mid-Infrared Lasers, High Efficiency Laser, Thulium-Doped Fiber Amplifier

Fixed and rotary winged aircraft require directed infrared counter-measures (DIRCM) systems to self-protect against heat seeking missiles, and the DIRCM multi-spectral light source is a key enabling technology and differentiator. Omni Sciences, Inc. (OSI), has developed a Mid-Infrared Super-Continuum Laser (MISCL) for DIRCM and other DoD applications that uses COTS components from the mature telecom and fiber optics industry. The MISCL generates a continuous spectrum covering much of Bands I-IV, making it difficult for the enemy to defeat by shifting the seeker wavelength acceptance bands. In addition, the MISCL light source has no moving parts and has the potential to be compact, lightweight, reliable and cost-effective. This project will improve efficacy of MISCL prototype against heat seeking missiles. First, the power will be increased and the jamming code modulation enabled to provide 0.5W in Band IV and 1.5W between 2-4 microns with 25% duty cycle. The MISCL wall-plug efficiency will be improved by using a thulium-doped power amplifier stage, and a high quality output spatial beam will be generated that is nearly transform limited. A MISCL prototype that is at technical readiness level TRL-4 or higher will be delivered to the Army for testing at the end of the program.

Keywords:
Super-Continuum Source, Fiber Laser, Dircm, Mid-Infrared Lasers, High Efficiency Laser, Thulium-Doped Fiber Amplifier