Affordable Beam Control Technology for Compact Beam Directors

The proposed effort will provide a new capability for high-energy laser (HEL) weapon targeting by creating a low-cost, compact, agile, wide-area, non-mechanical, beam director for high-energy lasers that mitigates turbulence and thermal blooming to be integrated into existing submarine universal modular masts. The concept outlined in this proposal creates a completely conformal aperture for a rugged, low-maintenance directed energy system. The design meets the requested specifications including: 100 kW power handling, wide-area beam control (Altitude: -30 degrees to +80 degrees ; Azimuth: 360 degrees ), 0.01 micro-radian accuracy, 20 G shock, and 100 psi pressure. The non-mechanical solution provides low SWaP, fast switching, and random access, while incorporating wavefront correction to mitigate thermal blooming and atmospheric impacts on beam propagation. The proposed effort will develop a full system model and trade study for applying these techniques to a submarine high-energy laser system, which will positively impact the application of all EO and optical systems to submarines.