SBIR-STTR Award

The Navy and the DoD have made a substantial investment in fiber-based high-energy lasers (HELs). Low size, weight and power (SWaP) is required for deployment of the HELs on mobile platforms. The SWaP of fiber-based HELs is largely dictated by the efficiency and SWaP of laser diode fiber coupled modules (FCMs). SRLs patent protected ITAR technology provides the highest efficiency and lowest SWaP FCMs for several reasons including:It uses high fill-factor (20%) laser diode bars with emitter spacing of 500 microns,Lowest resistance microchannel coolers that preserve efficiency and brightness at high operating power, andDirect bonding of the laser diode bars to the copper microchannel coolers. Under Phase 1, SRL will experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of a 60% efficient, kilowatt, low-SWaP (0.6cc/W, 0.6g/W) FCM. Such FCMs are essential for ship-based defense. It is noteworthy that there are no state-of-the-art or commercial-off-the-shelf kilowatt FCMs available. In Phase 2 SRL will deliver six, 60% efficient low-SWaP FCMs to a facility of the Navys choosing. These FCMs will be the basis for demonstrating a >45%, 5kW high-power fiber laser.

The Navy has made a substantial investment in fiber-based high-energy lasers (HELs) as evidenced by the HELIOS program. Efficient, low size, weight and power (SWaP) are essential for deployment of the HELs on mobile platforms. The SWaP of fiber-based HELs is largely dictated by the efficiency and SWaP of laser diode fiber coupled modules (FCMs). Under Phase 1, SRL experimentally demonstrated a 51-53% efficient, kilowatt (kW), low-SWaP (0.7cc/W, 0.7g/W) FCM. In Year 1 of the Phase 2 effort, SRL will increase the FCM efficiency to 57% and by the end of the Base Phase 2 program, will deliver a 60%, kW FCM to MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL). The SWaP of the FCM delivered to MIT LL will be 0.5cc/W and 0.5g/W. Efficient, low-SWaP kW FCMs are essential for ship-based defense that require =300kW HELs to defend ships against increasingly sophisticated missiles. It is noteworthy that there are no efficient, low-SWaP commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) kW FCMs available. Under the Phase 2 Option, SRL will deliver six, 60% efficient low-SWaP FCMs to MIT LL. These FCMs will be the basis for demonstrating a >45%, 5kW high-power fiber laser.