Segmented Deformable Mirror for Tactical HEL

This SBIR Phase II project will manufacture and test under high power laser loading a full-scale DM matched to ABL requirements. This TRL 6 prototype will be 30 cm in diameter with 1.875 cm spaced actuators – identical to the current ABL DM. However, the new DM has 14 microns stroke compared to 8 microns currently and has a negligible thermal ripple of 0.006 microns peak-to-valley after 200 seconds of ABL irradiation. Frequency response is excellent with first optical resonance above 6 KHz. In addition, the actuator drivers will be integrated onto the back surface of the DM and controllable by a simple bit serial interface line. This integration eliminates the usual rack of drive electronics and cables that accompany most DM’s. This 12 month program delivers the prototype to MDA, and the 18 month Option phase produces a flight-ready TRL 7 version suitable for a 1:1 replacement of the current DM. The flight-ready version includes an internal wavefront sensor that allows the figure of the mirror to be preset to any desired shape prior to initiating the HEL beam. This internal wavefront sensor uses grazing incidence beams to avoid any interference with surrounding components or beam path.