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High-Power Vertical Cavity Laser Diode Arrays for Space Applications

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Missile Defense Agency
Contract: HQ0147-08-C-7903
Agency Tracking Number: B063-020-0460
Amount: $1,999,960.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: MDA06-020
Solicitation Number: 2006.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2008-06-06
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-05-31
Small Business Information
4160 Market St., Suite 6
Ventura, CA 93003
United States
DUNS: 145925520
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 Michael MacDougal
 Vice-President of Enginee
 (805) 642-4645
 macdougal@aeriusphotonics.com
Business Contact
 Jonathan Geske
Title: President
Phone: (805) 642-4645
Email: geske@aeriusphotonics.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Instead of making incremental improvements to the inherent weakness of the laser facet, Aerius Photonics proposes to fabricate space-qualifiable laser pump arrays that eliminate the weakness of the facet altogether by using kilowatt-capable vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), which use a distributed mirror, effectively decoupling the feedback mirror from the output window. When compared to edge-emitting laser arrays, VCSELs offer (1) lower power density at the exit aperture, reducing hotspots, (2) simplified optics, (3) a single solder interface, (4) arbitrary array shape, (5)lower wavelength drift over temperature, and (6) a lower inherent production cost due to their ease of processing and testing. At the end of a successful Phase II, Aerius will deliver arrays with an emission wavelength of 808 nm and an output power of greater than 1000W per bar stack and demonstrating high reliability in a high vacuum environment. In Phase I, they performed baseline reliability studies of kilowatt-capable VCSEL arrays in vacuum and demonstrated their compatibility with space environments. In addition, Aerius’ VCSEL arrays demonstrated radiation hardness when exposed to ionizing radiation and proton irradiation.

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

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