Advanced DBR Laser Development for Cold Atom Microsystems

There is an urgent Department of Defense (DoD) need for precision Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) for weapons systems and platforms operating in severely degraded or GPS-denied environments. Next-generation PNT systems using Alkali-atom and cold-atom physics have been demonstrated and are being actively developed by the Air Force and other DoD agencies. These emerging PNT technologies promise navigation-grade and strategic-grade performance and timing capability in GPS-denied environments and are targeted to have highly integrated compact or chip-scale form factors. The proposed work under this DARPA SBIR Direct to Phase II program will serve to develop core laser technology required for advanced PNT physics packages including robust IMUs. Under this DARPA SBIR Phase II program, Photodigm will leverage their expertise in fabricating commercial-grade precision DBR Alkali-atom-certified lasers to develop high-efficiency and high-temperature (HEHT) DBR lasers having RF modulation capability. The precision DBR lasers and advanced laser modules developed under this program are key required components to meet the performance and SWaP+C requirements of these emerging portable PNT technologies. Applications include aircraft and weapons systems, personal/soldier navigation, distributed networks, unmanned air, land, and marine vehicles.