High Energy Solid State Laser (SSL) for Ship Self-Defense

This Phase II SBIR will demonstrate the feasibility of applying spectral beam combining (SBC) to large mode area fibers to enable power scaling to the 100kW level while maintaining the excellent beam quality provided by a single fiber laser. The anticipated result of the Phase II and the Phase II option will be the laboratory demonstration of a beam-combined fiber laser system, and the subsequent design of 10 kilowatt and 100 kilowatt systems showing the feasibility of fabricating a high-power, electrically driven, high beam quality lasers based on SBC for directed energy applications. This technology will ultimately provide a practical alternative to chemical lasers, which currently are the only means of generating weapons-class power from a laser. The defense market for such devices is significant, reflected by the fact that all branches of the US military are actively pursuing high power lasers. In addition, industrial high power applications of solid state lasers including welding, drilling, cutting, marking, and micro-processing account for a market in excess of $1 Billion which is growing at a rate of approximately 11% per year.