Thermostabilization of Adaptive Optics

To address the Air Force need for a lightweight thermal mitigation approach for high-energy laser mirror applications, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Thermostabilization of Adaptive Optics (TAO) approach. This proposed technology is based on enhanced phase-change thermal management. This innovation of a unique integration of the technologies of evaporative cooling with electrohydrodynamics plus a new thermal management design will enable the system to achieve a high and locally regulated heat removal rate while dramatically reducing hardware weight. As a result, TAO offers temperature stabilization of the adaptive optics mirror while removing up to 6 MJ of heat in 100 s, and storing it for further release, which directly addresses the ABL program requirements for thermal management of the adaptive focusing mirror. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of TAO technology by experimental analysis, testing, and evaluation that will determine the size, volume, weight, and power requirements for the TAO hardware design. In Phase II, POC plans to develop and fabricate the TAO prototype hardware, integrate it with a prototype HEL mirror system, and determine TAOs performance in a variety of realistic HEL and environmental conditions with the required instrumentation. BENEFIT: The TAO cooling concept for high-energy mirrors can be incorporated into practically every high power commercial application, such as the use of lasers for cutting, drilling, machining, welding, communications, and fusion. Military applications of the TAO technology will include HEL programs including ABL, ATL, and other airborne or relay mirror platforms. The TAO system can be incorporated by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army into a broad range of high power electronics and laser systems, which will benefit from this thermal management technique.