EOS Photonics — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N142-093

Description

The objective of the present program is to develop a lambda ~ 4.6 microns source based on a stack of QCL bars with unprecedented power level exceeding 100 Watts while maintaining good beam quality. The solution proposed needs to be (1) compatible with beam combining solutions and (2) scalable to the kilowatt level. Eos Photonics proposes to leverage its experience building, cooling and packaging 1-D QCL array, in order to assemble several such bars into a 2D stack. Detailed mechanical and thermal modeling will be required to properly size the different components. Keeping in mind the constraints posed by the very large thermal load, Eos will find materials, and mounting procedures minimizing the mechanical stress on the laser array and also minimizing SMILE. Eos will also investigate potential failure mechanisms and find mitigating solutions. All design parameters as well as their expected deviations (from mounting error, thermal effects or mechanical stress) will be evaluated in the context of the beam combining solution identified to maintain an excellent beam quality.