Beam Director/Expander for High Energy Laser Applications Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Topic No.: N091-009 Topic Title: Beam Director/Expander for High Energy Laser Applications Proposal No.: N091-009-0888 Firm: Creare Inc. P.O. Box 71 Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Contact: Paul Sorensen Phone: (603) 643-3800 Web Site: www.creare.com Abstract: The overall goal of this project is to design, fabricate, and test a compact, low power, aircraft-mounted Beam Director/Expander (BD/E) for High Energy Laser (HEL) Applications. Examples of HEL applications include: (1) directed energy weapons from air- and space-borne sources, and (2) countermeasures for surface-to-air missiles aimed at aircraft. Both applications require high bandwidth and high accuracy to reject structural disturbances (jitter) from the base aircraft and to enable rapid target acquisition and tracking. Tactical beam directors for these applications need to: handle laser power up to 300 kW, have optical throughput greater than 90%, work with wavelengths between 1.0 micron and 1.1 micron, have residual wavefront error less than lambda/8 at 1.06 micron, have residual jitter less than 2 microrad, have slew rates exceeding 2 rad/sec, be capable of slew accelerations greater than 2 rad/sec2, take up less than 0.2 cubic meters, and have mass less than 50 kg. Our proposed Beam Director/Expander combines a unique, optical design; advanced mirror materials; novel actuator technology; and proven gimbal and high-speed control system electronics. During Phase I, we will demonstrate the feasibility of our approach. During Phase II, we will fabricate and test a bench-top BD/E. Benefits: In addition to the applications such as directing a high-energy laser beam for countermeasures to surface-to-air missiles, this technology will potentially be useful for a number of space-based and airborne systems including military laser-based directed energy systems, target acquisition and tracking, and laser-based communications. Return