Engineered Materials for improved Airborne Laser Mine Detection Systems

This Navy SBIR Phase II effort will develop the processing steps required to fabricate high quality periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPSLT) and demonstrate its utility for use in both current and emerging Airborne Laser Mine Detection Systems (ALMDS) by enabling highly efficient laser wavelenth conversion. The proposed optical material will also support the development of short-pulsed, high repetition rate fiber-based lasers operating in the blue/green spectral region that may be used in future ALMDS for improved mine detection and discrimination in shallow water and surf zone regions. AdvR will utilize a novel poling technique, which was successfully demonstrated during the Phase I effort, in conjunction with improved periodic electrode design to optimize the SLT poling process. Conversion efficiency and damage threshold of the PPSLT substrate will be measured using both a pulsed, high power Nd:YAG laser and a short pulse, high repetition rate, high average power ytterbium doped fiber laser. A benchtop frequency doubled, short pulse high repetition rate fiber laser will be built using the engineered material to demonstrate the advancements possible in a future ALMDS laser transmitter system as well as facilitate the development of future ALMDS systems.