High Power Mid-infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers for BMDS and other applications

The proposed application for phase II deals with the prototyping and demonstration of a blackbody laser source of high brightness capable of simulating targets of varying temperature. This will enable a flexible and powerful missile plume simulator that can be used in airborne laser systems for targeting and seeker tests. Quantum cascade lasers are ideal for simulating light sources in the mid- and long-wave infrared, because their high spectral energy density is equivalent to that of a very bright blackbody source. When the QC material is electrically pumped, energy is directly converted into infrared light with an electro-optical conversion efficiency in the spectral range of interest of about 5-10%, which is orders of magnitude higher than the efficiency of a thermal source, whose emission is spread over a very broad spectral range and not directional. This high brightness sources can be very versatile and can be designed to target specific emission characteristics according to the application requirements. The QC laser based approach to simulating a black body can be achieved using current technology. The approach is versatile and scalable. Our proposal will deliver a QCL based prototype version of a blackbody element for simulation tests at different blackbody temperatures.