AQWEST, LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Aqwest will develop a novel high-power ultra-short pulse (USP) laser amplifier at eye safe

Description

Aqwest will develop a novel high-power ultra-short pulse (USP) laser amplifier at eye safer wavelengths (ESW). The project will leverage our previous work in the development of USP laser amplifiers and offers major benefits to the Navy and the Department of Defense: 1.5-1.7 micron wavelength range for eye safety and good atmospheric transmission Wide bandwidth for pulse compression to<100 femtoseconds Output scalable to>100 mJ Pulse repetition frequency (PRF) up to kHz regime Near diffraction-limited beam quality (BQ) for efficient pulse compression/propagation Compact and lightweight for portability by military means In Phase I, we will update our amplifier concept and demonstrate its feasibility by analysis and laboratory experiments. In particular, we will demonstrate the feasibility of scaling the amplifier to a 100 mJ, 1 kHz, 100 fs laser system at an ESW. In Phase II, we will construct a USP laser system and use it to demonstrate generation of 100 fs pulses of more than 50mJ at an ESW within the 1.5 micron transmission window at modest PRF. Based on these results, we will develop a scaling path and a conceptual design for a USP laser for increased PRF.