Active frequency stabilized laser systems for high performance defense applications

This proposed Phase I project is aimed at developing a turn-key highly-coherent laser system for commercial and high-performance military applications. The core technology of the proposed system is based on regenerative spectral hole burning (RSHB) materials. RSHB materials currently provide the narrowest optical resonance recorded in a solid state material. The ultra-narrow resonant structure of RSHB materials is immune to external vibrations, making this technology ideal for systems operating in high vibration environments typical of aircraft and naval vessels. In these high-vibration environments, traditional optical frequency references are susceptible to failure. This proposed effort will concentrate on device development in three areas that are crucial to bring this technology to a commercial state including: 1) RSHB frequency discriminator model verification for operational tuning of the device parameters for improved performance; 2) simulation and analysis of a digital servo control design; and 3) system component analysis leading to down selection for the commercial product. Successful completion of these efforts will enable a system prototype to be built and tested in phase II of this project that will achieve kHz linewidths in a robust and highly deployable package.