Power scaling of blue lasers with high peak-power and repetition rate for detection of underwater objects Navy SBIR FY2014.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.1 Topic No.: N141-008 Topic Title: Power scaling of blue lasers with high peak-power and repetition rate for detection of underwater objects Proposal No.: N141-008-0147 Firm: Endeavour Laser Technologies PO Box 174 Hathorne, Massachusetts 01937-0247 Contact: David Welford Phone: (978) 764-8787 Web Site: endeavourlaser.com Abstract: High peak-power pulsed-mode blue laser systems are important for naval detection of underwater objects because of their good penetration of seawater. The US Navy's basic performance objectives for this application are the efficient generation of >15 mJ, <20 ns laser pulses in the 460 nm to 490 nm range at kilohertz rates. Commercially available lasers meet some, but not all, of the required performance criteria and none meet the packaging and reliability requirements for use in the field. The laser driven frequency-doubling and -tripling generation paths currently employed do not support the performance, size and weight objectives needed because they are inherently overly complex. The simplest possible approach is the generation of Q-switched laser pulses with a directly pumped laser medium operating in the desired spectral region. In this SBIR program we propose to study the feasibility an innovative diode-laser-pumped solid-state laser whose primary operating wavelength meets the US Navy's requirements. Benefits: A solid-state laser operating directly in the blue meeting the Navy's requirements would also be of great benefit in oceanographic bathymetry systems for survey and exploration work. Commercial markets also need high-power pulsed blue lasers for laser materials processing, illumination and projection displays. Return