Electronically Tunable High-Power Infrared Lasers for Standoff Detection Applications

In response to the Army STTR Topic A14A-T015 solicitation for tunable high-power LWIR lasers for standoff detection applications, Pranalytica proposed to develop a compact, rugged and highly reliable wavelength tunable quantum cascade laser (QCL) module delivering over 5W of peak power and over 0.5W of average power in the spectral region spanning from 7 to 11m. The proposed approach is based on a new external cavity configuration, not used for QCLs heretofore, and offers several important advantages, over either the QCL arrays or the traditional grating external cavity QCL, for practical field applications, including rapid wavelength tuning, high manufacturing yield, and compatibility with standard QCL packaging. In Phase I of the present program we have carried out critical experiments that boosted our confidence in the proposed approach. Using companys internal funds, we have extended our concept of all electronic tuning to CW operation of the QCL and carried out proof of the concept stand off detection studies. Using the collected experimental Phase I data, we have finalized the laser source design and proposed its step-by-step development/fabrication cycle. Unprecedented combination of the projected operational characteristics of the module will pave the way to a new generation of standoff detection systems.