Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: To address the Navy need for laser-induced plasma detonation (LIPD), Physical Optics Corpo

Description

To address the Navy need for laser-induced plasma detonation (LIPD), Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Ranged Eye-Safe Laser-Induced Flashbang Enabling System (RESLIFE) with minimized risk of permanent damage or fatalities. This proposed system is based on a combination of two commercially available eye-safe pulsed laser systems, namely the picosecond Er laser and nanosecond Tm laser systems. With the innovation in dual-wavelength energy delivery to a desired location, the RESLIFE will precisely and independently control the light and acoustic effects of the detonation while providing substantially stronger visual and auditory deterrent compared to current LIPD systems. As a result, this system offers a strong deterrent comparable to existing flashbang systems that could also be pulse-rate controlled to deliver messages using eye-safe laser sources, which directly address the Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program requirements for nonlethal effects on human targets. In Phase I, POC will show the feasibility of RESLIFE through analytical demonstration of dual-wavelength laser system modeling for laser-induced plasma detonation. In Phase II, POC plans to demonstrate a fully functional breadboard system operation capable of plasma production beyond 100 m.