TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Weapons

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMA-201 Conventional Strike Weapons

OBJECTIVE: Develop a high conversion efficiency method of converting infrared energy into the visible spectrum using sum frequency generation techniques. This will enable elimination of the cryo-genically cooled MWIR sensor used in current infrared missile seeker LADAR applications.

DESCRIPTION: The performance of currently available laser detectors in the midwave infrared (MWIR/3-5 micrometers) is inferior to their silicon-based counterparts operating in the visible and near-infrared region. Typically, they have small active areas, low gain, low electronic bandwidth, and poor noise characteristics. Oftentimes, they require cryogenic cooling which translate to larger size, higher power consumption, and higher cost. This project aims to eliminate the need for MWIR detectors by demonstrating a nonlinear optical conversion technique, sum frequency generation, whereby a MWIR signal is frequency-shifted to the visible spectrum for detection. As an example, the parameter used to measure a sensor�s sensitivity is called the specific detectivity (D*). The difference between visible band silicon detectors and MWIR semi-conductor detectors can be as high as two-orders of magnitude, in favor of silicon detectors.

PHASE I: Develop a conceptual design of a LADAR and verify with component testing in the laboratory. For example, use a laser diode as the pump source to optically pump a nonlinear optical crystal and to generate the summed frequency output. Demonstrate detection with silicon visible band detector. Characterize and describe the sensitivity of the detection.

PHASE II: Develop and build a prototype LADAR sensor, using the technology proven in phase 1, for use as a missile seeker, and test in a simulated environment.

PHASE III: The LADAR sensor would become an incremental upgrade to the seeker sensor in an existing missile program.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The technologies develped under this SBIR project can lead to sensors for both military and commerical applications. High sensivity mid-infared sensors can be used to detect hazardous and deadly chemical agents and be used for lidar detection system for ranging applications.

REFERENCES:
1. R. L. Sutherland, Handbook of Nonlinear Optics, New York, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1996.
2. G. D. Boyd and D. A. Kleinman, "Parametric Interaction of Focused Gaussian Light Beams," J. Applied Physics, Vol. 39, 1968, p. 3597.
3. K. L. Vodopyanov, O. Levi, P. S. Kuo, T. J. Pinguet, J. S. Harris, M. M. Fejer, B. Gerard, L. Becouarn, and E. Lallier, "Optical parametric oscillation in quasi-phase-matched GaAs," Optics Letters, Vol. 29, No. 16, Aug. 2004, pp. 1912- 1914.

KEYWORDS: LADAR; sum frequency generation; nonlinear crystal; mid-infrared detection, optical pumping

TPOC: Keith Krapels
Phone: (703)696-5787
Fax:
Email: [email protected]
2nd TPOC: Matthew Chen
Phone: (760)939-7701
Fax:
Email: [email protected]

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between May 1, 2006 and June 13, 2006, you may talk directly with the Topic Author(s) to ask technical questions about the topics. Their contact information is listed above. For reasons of competitive fairness, direct communication between proposers and topic authors is not allowed starting June 14, 2006 , when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

However, proposers may still submit written questions about solicitation topics through the SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System (SITIS), in which the questioner and respondent remain anonymous and all questions and answers are posted electronically for general viewing until the solicitation closes. All proposers are advised to monitor SITIS (06.2 Q&A) during the solicitation period for questions and answers, and other significant information, relevant to the SBIR 06.2 topic under which they are proposing.

If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk at (866) 724-7457 or email weblink.