High-Power Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Laser Array with Continuous-Wave Output Power Exceeding 100W Navy SBIR FY2014.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2014.2 Topic No.: N142-093 Topic Title: High-Power Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Laser Array with Continuous-Wave Output Power Exceeding 100W Proposal No.: N142-093-0549 Firm: EOS Photonics 30 Spinelli Place A Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 Contact: Laurent Diehl Phone: (617) 945-9137 Web Site: www.eosphotonics.com Abstract: 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. Benefits: The high power QCL source developed here will disrupt the IRCM market and be tremendously beneficial for the protection of ships, aircraft and helicopters from MANPADS. This technological advance can also serve a number of other military market segments, from target illumination to free-space optical communication and identification, friends or foes (IFF) systems. Additionally, the co-emergence of modern Mid-IR Focal Plane Arrays (FPA) with increasingly powerful QCLs is a natural union. A high power QCL source would be an ideal light source for rapidly rastering the pixels of an FPA so as to acquire chemical "photographs" in various dual-use environments. Return