Supercontinuum Laser Systems and the Simulation of the High Radiance Solar Lunar Spectrum for Space Sensor Testing

ABSTRACT: Optical Sciences Corporation (OSC) proposes an extension/enhancement of the Phase II effort to develop an advanced state-of-the-art supercontinuum laser source in the midwave infrared (MWIR) and the world"s first supercontinuum fiber laser source in the longwave infrared (LWIR). These cutting edge supercontinuum laser sources will be capable of integrating into the Phase II prototype system, the high radiance solar lunar spectral simulator (SOLUSS) system. The Phase II enhancement enables the investigation and demonstration of more advanced technologies that were beyond the original scope and capability of the Phase II effort alone. The accomplishment of this objective will require using more efficient supercontinuum generation (SCG) infrared fibers and the most advanced laser pump sources. The anticipated result is a broader spectral representation in the MWIR and LWIR at higher radiance levels. BENEFIT: The emerging technology of supercontinuum lasers will be utilized as a stable and programmable infrared spectral illumination source. The Phase II research and development will result in a product establishing a new application for these emerging technologies. The solar lunar spectral simulator (SOLUSS) system will significantly improve the state-of-the-art in high radiance infrared testing in space sensor characterization and hardware-in-the-loop testing within typical laboratory and cryogenic-vacuum environments. The SOLUSS product, as well as the subsystem components, is marketable to the Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Department of Energy, the defense and aerospace industry, and possible biomedical applications. These applications include infrared counter-measures; tunable infrared sources for spectroscopy and chemical detection; precision radiometric infrared illumination; active remote and security motion sensing; replace solar simulator systems using xeon arc-lamps; therapeutic, biological, and surgical programmable infrared illuminators; optical coherence tomography; ultrafast quantum cascade laser for ultrafast LWIR phenomena; and real-time optical metrology.