Adaptive Agile Multi-Spectral Laser Protection Devices

This SBIR Phase I proposal proposes to develop agile multi-spectral laser protection devices against multi-wavelength high-energy lasers based on KOI’s exclusive reflective type optical tunable notch filters whose capability for laser beam blocking has been demonstrated. The device has a wide spectral coverage from the visible to infrared (IR) (e.g., mid-wave IR) with an optical density over 4 at the laser wavelength. The notch bandwidth is around 50 nm in the visible and around 100nm in IR. The insertion loss to normal detection light is less than 1 dB. Electro-optical response time is less than 20 ms. The device is simple, and lightweight with excellent thermal stability up to 100oC, low power consumption of < 1mW/cm2, and high resistance to both UV radiation and mechanical impact. The device can be built to have large size (e.g., 2¢´3¢) filters on flexible plastic sheets. Phase I is to demonstrate a functional laser protection device with the emphasis on laser line discrimination, threshold capability, laser elimination efficiency, and response time. Phase II is to develop fully functional prototype devices in the visible, near NIR, short-wave infrared (SWIR), and MWIR. The prototypes will be tested in a flight platform.