High Efficiency Multi-band Mid-Infrared Superconti

Fixed and rotary winged aircraft require directed infrared counter-measures (DIRCM) systems to self-protect against heat seeking missiles, and the multi-spectral light source used in DIRCM is a key enabling technology and differentiator. A super-continuum (SC) laser is an attractive candidate for the DIRCM light source, but to be efficacious the SC must be capable of being modulated with jamming codes, the wall-plug efficiency of the SC generation must be improved, and the power in each of the DIRCM wavelength bands must be increased. Omni Sciences, Inc. (OSI) has developed a Mid-Infrared Super-continuum Laser (MIRSCL) using fibers and telecom components and that generates broadband, super-continuum covering simultaneously the wavelength range from ~0.8 to ~4.3 microns. To meet the Army DIRCM requirements, the MIRSCL will be modulated to support jamming codes with 25% duty cycle, and the electrical power consumption and heat dissipation will be reduced by modulating the power amplifier pump lasers. In addition, the MIRSCL wall-plug efficiency can be increased by a factor of 2-3X by using a thulium-doped power amplifier to replace the current erbium/ytterbium fiber amplifier. The SC power will be increased and optimized for Band IV–A (3.8-4.3 microns) by using a high-NA ZBLAN fluoride fiber.