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High Power Mid-infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers for BMDS and other applications

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Missile Defense Agency
Contract: HQ0006-10-C-7362
Agency Tracking Number: B093-040-0264
Amount: $99,601.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: MDA09-040
Solicitation Number: 2009.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-05-03
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-11-02
Small Business Information
18007 Cortney Court
City of Industry, CA 91748
United States
DUNS: 145098567
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Mariano Troccoli
 Director, Product Development
 (626) 956-1000
 mariano.troccoli@atoptics.com
Business Contact
 Mary Fong
Title: CEO
Phone: (626) 956-1000
Email: mary.fong@atoptics.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

In Phase I we propose to demonstrate a room temperature continuous wave QC laser at 4.5µm with high power (P>0.5W) and wall plug efficiency (η>5%). The data will be used to design a high performance QC laser with projected wall plug efficiency exceeding 15% in continuous mode operation at room temperature. Our goal is to fabricate, characterize and package the high efficiency lasers in Phase II of the proposed project, and use beam combining methods to increase powers to above 3.5 W by combining six 1W single emitters with an estimated coupling efficiency of 65%. Preliminary sensing experiments, laser frequency modulation studies, and modeling of beam combining will also be carried out in Phase I with currently available lower efficiency lasers. The high efficiency devices will be designed at various possible emission wavelengths, ranging from the MWIR (3-5µm) to the LWIR (8-12µm). Modeling will take care of the three main aspects of efficiency improvement: heat management optimization, optical loss minimization, and electrical power reduction. The final phase I results will lead to a feasibility evaluation for a high power packaged laser with multiple high efficiency emitters combined in one rugged and portable package with estimates of its remote sensing and modulation capabilities.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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