Advanced Multi-Purpose NIR/MWIR Dual-Band Coatings and Mirrors for HEL Beam Control Systems

MDA and other DoD components are interested in Advanced Multi-Purpose NIR/MWIR Dual-Band Coatings and Mirrors for HEL Beam Control Systems for future Airborne Laser and MDA High Power Laser weapons and sensors, whether airborne or spaceborne. The proposed technology is relevant to all beam control and delivery systems, including: primary and secondary mirrors, Coudé mirrors, scraper mirrors, fast steering and deformable mirrors, windows, acquisition and tracking telescopes, and target illumination systems. Mission safety for future systems may require longer wavelength high-power eye-safe lasers. Multi-purpose capability is realized by combining beam paths for the NIR laser with sensors, trackers or illuminator subsystems. In Phase I a deterministic method will be used to demonstrate a NIR/MWIR dual-band coated mirror with reflectance >99.99%, average MWIR reflectance >95%, low scatter (< 50 ppm), high damage threshold and environmental stability. System engineering will demonstrate the efficacy of the mirrors for candidate Phase II subsystem prototypes. The Principle Investigator successfully designed, manufactured and experimentally validated low emissivity, high reflectance, nuclear survivable VIS/NIR/LWIR seeker coatings on SiC mirrors under MDA Contracts #HQ0006-05-C-7149 and W9113M-07-C-0156, dimensionally stable cryogenic coatings on SiC for MDA STSS Contract HQ0006-09-C-7121, and ultra-low loss anti-reflection and high reflector coatings for the HEL JTO.