SBIR-STTR Award

We propose to refine the development of a Yb,Er:Glass 1535 nm diode-pumped single-longitudinal and transverse mode ultra-narrowband miniature solid-state laser with low intensity and phase noise, and output powers > 100 mW, in an industry standard butterfly-type package with a volume of 100 mW and completed initial laboratory demonstrations of the technology. During a Phase I program, we would further experimentally scale the output power to at least 150 mW, and will characterize the RIN and phase-noise performance using both direct, and fiber-coupled devices. A detailed butterfly package design will also be completed, including hermetic sealing, as well as the Phase II plan. The work performed during the Phase I program will enhance and lower the risk for demonstrating optimized devices and packages that can be further tested during Phase II, including under airborne environmental conditions.

Benefit:
The technology and devices we propose to develop during a Phase I SBIR program will find immediate applications, after Phase II, including in known Navy RF/analog fiber optic link programs, military communication, sensing, and surveillance systems, and commercially as prospecting devices in the oil and gas industry, in the growing market for LIDAR systems, and high speed RF links.

Keywords:
Er:Glass Diode-Pumped Laser, Er:Glass Diode-Pumped Laser, 1535 nm Laser, low phase noise laser, Ultra-Narrowband Laser, miniature laser, Yb, RF Photonics Laser

We propose to refine and extend the development of a Yb,Er:Glass 1535 nm diode-pumped single-longitudinal and transverse mode ultra-narrowband miniature solid-state laser with low intensity and phase noise, and output powers > 400 mW, in a custom package with a volume of 100 mW from a single-mode polarization-maintaining fiber. During the proposed Phase II program, we will further experimentally scale the fiber-coupled output power to 400 mW, by utilizing heatsinking advances and by increasing our materials joining technology capabilities. Laser devices will be demonstrated using a new custom laser package. Our lasers will meet the TR 4 level by the end of the program. In addition to further extending our laser technology, we will demonstrate complete integrated compact laser packages that incorporate our Yb,Er:Glass lasers with single-mode polarization-maintaining output fibers, and a laser control board for providing laser diode current and TEC control.

Benefit:
The technology and devices we propose to develop during a Phase II SBIR program will find immediate applications, after Phase II, including in known Navy RF/analog fiber optic link programs, military communication, sensing, and surveillance systems, and commercially as prospecting devices in the oil and gas industry, in the growing market for LIDAR systems, and high speed RF links. . It is anticipated that by the end of the Phase II program, and having achieved a TR-4 level, we will with the Navy identify a specific air or submarine program that will provide additional resources that will allow us to extend our performance to TR-6.

Keywords:
photonics, single-longitudinal-mode laser, compact laser., Yb, Er:Glass laser, Ultra-Narrowband Laser, Diode-pumped solid-state laser, single-transverse-mode laser