The Federation Application Integration Infrastructure (FAII)

Not Available Low noise lasers are critical to the development of high performance analog photonic systems for large number of military and commercial systems. Low noise DFB lasers have been the mainstay of the low noise laser applications in the past. However, certain limitations make them less desirable for a number of applications which include the high relative intensity (RIN) noise dominating the noise performance, particularly at high frequencies. They are also quite expensive. A low cost noise laser is urgently needed for the antenna remoting and other applications for military as well as for commercial users. Diode pumped solid state lasers (DPSS) appear to be the most promising candidate for low noise lasers. Researchers have already demonstrated low noise lasers with noise of -165 dBc/Hz in the 1-20GHz range and it appears that better noise level can be achieved. However, currently they are extremely expensive to manufacture. The new technology of high power VCSELs which can be used as pump lasers will drastically change the picture by making it possible to manufacture ultra low noise solid state lasers at very low cost. Princeton Electronic Systems (PES), which has a strong background on high power VSCELs and low noise transmitter development has teamed with Fluence Solutions which has a strong background on high power VCSELs and low noise transmitter development has teamed with Fluence Solutions which has a strong background in the area of diode pumped solid state lasers. Together as a team they plan to develop a VCSEL pumped micro-laser which can be produced at a very low cost. The micro-laser will have a low material cost and can be produced under $50 each in quantities of 1000. In phase I of this program, PES proposes to demonstrate a low cost, ultra low noise DPSS micro-laser with output at 1550nm which can be used for RF as well as digital applications using 940nm VCSELs as the pump source. PES will develop the high power VCSELs in phase I using the already developed epitaxial lift off technology and couple them with this will be a revolutionary product in the area of RF Photonics and telecommunications systems. PES plans to commercialize the laser immediately after development.