Ultrasensitive, Real-Time Optical Health Monitoring System

This Phase I SBIR project seeks to develop an ultrasensitive optical monitoring instrument that is capable of measuring changes in the performance of critical HEL optical components in real-time. The instrument will rapidly and precisely detect extremely small changes in optical loss with high temporal resolution over an extended period of time, and provide a history for subsequent correlation with ABL/SBL system performance. The system will provide a means of correlating a change in laser performance or onset of damage with the reduction in performance of specific ABL components at the relevant wavelength (e.g. 1315 nm, 1064 nm, etc). The system will detect changes in performance that occur due to a host of different mechanisms, including contaminant outgassing, particle loading, and substrate or coating degradation. The Phase I research will demonstrate a bench top version of the core platform as well as identify suitable subcomponents that will be required for the Phase II Prototype. The ability to quantify minor changes in the performance of ABL relevant optics will be demonstrated, and performance anticipated of the Phase II prototype will be estimated. Specifically, vacuum compatible designs will be determined for subsequent integration into the HEL environment during Phase II.