SBIR-STTR Award

In this project, we will grow an innovative, coilable and true double-clad crystalline YAG fiber and investigate its application to high energy lasers. The grown fiber will have all the required properties: single transversal mode operation, coilable fiber (to~100 cm), low propagation loss (<0.003/cm), high absorption and emission cross-sections, high thermal conductivity, and high laser damaging threshold. In the Phase I stage, we will deliver two 100+ mm long fibers to the Army and conduct the proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate the lasing operation of this fiber. A longer fiber (at least 1500 mm) will be grown and delivered to the Army in the Phase II stage. A multi-kilowatt level lasing operation will also be demonstrated in the Phase II stage. We will also seek for commercializing this technology and applying this small footprint, light weight, rugged, clad crystalline based high energy laser to both the military (such as destroying enemy target at the speed of light) and civilian (industrial manufacturing) applications.

In this Phase II project, we will develop longer and higher quality crystalline cladding and crystalline core optical fibers by modifying, improving, and optimizing the unique crystalline cladding and crystalline core fiber growing system and process developed in the Phase I stage.The longer and higher quality crystalline cladding and crystalline core optical fiber offers the capabilities of a higher thermal conductivity, a properabsorption cross-section, a lower propagation loss and nonlinearity, and a better mode control, which enables high energy fiber lasers.The samples of longer and higher quality crystalline cladding and crystalline core fiber will be delivered to the Army Research Lab for evaluation and testing, including lasing experiment.It is anticipated that the output power of the crystalline cladding and crystalline core fiber laser can be more than one order of magnitude higher than that of glass fiber laser.We will also seek for commercializing this technology in both military (such as laser directed energy weapon) and commercial applications (such as laser cutting and welding).