TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Sensors, Electronics

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: PMS 450 - Virginia Class Submarine Program - ACAT I

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: Research and develop a low cost/low phase noise laser source for use with existing fiber optic interferometer hydrophone sensors on Virginia Class Submarines.

DESCRIPTION: Current Virginia Class submarines incorporate a series of hull-mounted Light Weight Wide Aperture Array (LWWAA) hydrophone sensor arrays for detection and passive ranging. The LWWAA is very desirable on a submarine, in lieu of traditional ceramic Wide Aperture Arrays, due to its low power consumption, low cost of manufacturing/maintenance, resistance to electromagnetic interference (EMI), lack of outboard electronics, and light weight materials. The current sensor array consists of several Nd:YAG Non-Planar Ring Oscillator (NPRO) solid state laser sources, optical components, fiber optic hydrophones, and receiver/processing equipment.

This SBIR seeks to develop a laser source to meet required specifications of low phase noise, fiber coupled output that is at least 200 milliwatts (mW), and an optical continuous wave (CW) output of 1319 nanometers (nm). Other important considerations would be to create an innovative laser that is low cost, compact in size, has a low sensitivity to vibration, has efficient fiber coupling, and is supportable for the expected lifetime of the LWWAA. Developing methods to maintain a workable temperature environment for the laser with minimal input power and extra parts may be examined to help reduce total lifetime maintenance costs. The applicability of various laser technologies such as Fiber Lasers, Semiconductor Lasers, and Solid State Lasers should also be researched and considered. Tuning the laser through frequency modulation in low intervals and with negligible amplitude modulation as well as adjusting wavelength in low intervals is needed; it is also an area that can be explored for new and more precise methods of tuning.

PHASE I: Research new design approaches for laser optics using advanced technologies. The design should include; proposed design specifications (output power, phase noise, size, and wavelength), cost estimates, and any potential risks with proposed mitigations for each risk identified.

PHASE I: Develop, fabricate and test a prototype to demonstrate the capability of the laser solution to meet design specifications of output power, phase noise, size, and wavelength. Evaluate design with a provided sensor array and receiver unit to show the solution�s application on future sensor arrays.

PHASE II: Develop, fabricate and test a prototype to demonstrate the capability of the laser solution to work with a provided sensor array and receiver unit and show the solution�s application to future sensor arrays.

PHASE III: Finalize the laser solution; including any redesign required incorporating the lessons learned in Phase II, and conduct necessary qualification testing for transition into an acquisition program.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The technology generated by this research and development project has the potential to benefit commercial applications of fiber optic technology by providing greater control of laser source characteristics. This may result in longer fiber optic transmission distances as well as higher data rates and lower transmission loss. Increasing the capabilities of existing fiber optic resources is of tremendous value to the commercial sector.

REFERENCES:
1. R.E. Bartolo, et al., "The Quest for Inexpensive, Compact, Low Phase Noise Laser Sources for Fiber Optic Sensing Applications.," Proc. of SPIE, Vol. 7503, pp.750370-1, 2009

2. A.B. Dandridge, et al., "Development of the Fiber Optic Wide Aperture Array: From Initial Development to Production.," Optical Sciences Division 2004 http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=04REVIEW177

3. G. A. Cranch, et al., "Large-Scale Remotely Pumped and Interrogated Fiber-Optic Interferometric Sensor Array." IEEE PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, VOL. 15, NO. 11, NOVEMBER 2003. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=01237594

4. Northrop Grumman Fiber-Optic Acoustic Sensors (FOAS)
www.es.northropgrumman.com/solutions/lwwaa/assets/Fiber-Optic-Acoustic-Sensors_F.pdf

KEYWORDS: Laser; Hydrophone; Sensor Array; Interferometer,; Electro-Optical

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

DoD Notice:   Between July 20 and August 16, 2010, you may talk directly with the Topic Authors 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 August 17, when DoD begins accepting proposals for this solicitation.

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