High Speed Low-Power Optical Receiver Fiber-Optically Coupled Laser Beam Forming and Steering Device for Multipurpose Airborne Laser Application

PSR purposes to develop a preliminary design for a multi-spectral, large field of regard (FOR), laser beam forming and steering device. This design will evolve from an analytical study that defines the performance and functional requirements, assesses the status of various critical optical and electro-optical (EO) component technologies, and demonstrates the ability of the recommended fiber-optical coupling concept to achieve the required FOR. The refinement of the performance and functional requirements will result in defining the spatial, temporal, intensity, sensitivity and spectal requirements of the transmitter and receiver. A component technology review will address non-gimballed beam steering and integrated (lenset arrays and binary optics) optical technologies and components. PSR will also explore the suitability of non-gimballed, fiber-optically coupled objective lens to access the required FOR at multiple wavelengths. The product of this effort will be a preliminary design for a fiber-optically coupled laser beam forming and steering device and a a detailed design for a low power prototype device.