Unconventional broadband IR optical system for the advanced multi-functional, low scattering loss, high discrimination capability LADAR seeker and im

The primary objective of this proposed research effort is to develop an unconventional broadband infrared (IR) optical system for the advanced multi-functional, lower scattering loss, higher discrimination capability LADAR seeker and IR imager. The key innovation of the proposed system is harnessing a novel super-broadband IR source that can cove the near IR (NIR), middle IR (MWIR), and long wave IR (LWIR) spectral regime. Such a broadband supercontinuum IR source is realized via the nonlinear broadening of the narrow spectrum pumping light beam in highly IR transmissive, high laser damage threshold optical fibers and/or waveguides. The major advantages of the proposed optical system include following unique feastures: (1) it is the most effective way to realize the Broadband IR source, (2) it has a much reduced scattering propagation loss (at least an order) due to the involvement of the long IR wavelength, (3) it can significantly increase the target recognition capability because it can provide not only the geometric information of the target but also the material composition of the target (an effective way to fight camouflaged targets), and (4) it also enable many other critical applications such as active IR imaging, countering-IR imaging, and long range standoff chemical and explosive detections.