High Efficiency Gain Media for Eye-Safer 1.55 æm Ultrafast Fiber Amplifiers Navy STTR FY2010.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2010.A Topic No.: N10A-T012 Topic Title: High Efficiency Gain Media for Eye-Safer 1.55 æm Ultrafast Fiber Amplifiers Proposal No.: N10A-012-0165 Firm: Raydiance, Inc. 2199 S. McDowell Blvd Suite 140 Petaluma, California 94954 Contact: Tim Booth Phone: (707) 559-2100 Web Site: www.raydiance.com Abstract: Compelling applications of infrared ultrafast lasers-ranging from ship self defense and aircraft self defense, to medical and micromachining applications-have defined a critical performance point at about one millijoule per pulse from a reliable and robust portable laser system with high average power. Increasing amplifier efficiency is a critical need in order to reach high average powers needed to ensure a system capable of meeting Navy application needs. This program aims to develop novel specialty fibers to be used in amplification schemes which will operate at substantially higher efficiencies that the current state of the art. Increased efficiency will reduce waste heat produced by the amplifiers, substantially reducing the thermal management burden and leading to a variety of size and weight advantages for a packaged fiber ultrafast laser system utilizing the fibers developed under this program. Benefits: There are many clearly identified critical and high value applications for ultrafast lasers for both commercial and military applications, including ship and aircraft self defense against advanced IRCM threats, smart wound debridement, micromachining of novel devices such as MEMS, and disassembly of explosive devices with reduced risk to our armed services personnel. The physical phenomena and stand-off ranges driving these near term applications require ultrafast laser pulse energy on the millijoule scale in conjunction with high average powers, while the usage scenarios require a robust, deployable system to produce this unique form of laser light. At present, there is no available laser system that fulfills all the requirements. The development of high efficiency fibers will serve to advance the state of the art by providing high average powers in conjunction with an architecture suitable for deployment. A fiber, millijoule class, high average power ultrafast laser will be suitable for meeting the mission needs of many of the aforementioned applications, enhancing military capabilities and creating economic growth for commercial applications by the development of new products and services. Return