Novel Compact Short-Pulse Eyesafe Transmitter

"Compact, rugged and efficient imaging ladar transceivers are required for future autonomous navigation and missile guidance systems. Current systems do not simultaneously satisfy requirements for transceiver size, weight, prime power, robustness and highrange resolution. This is particularly true of the most expensive and complex transceiver subsystem - the ladar transmitter - which must provide 1 nanosecond class pulses to resolve <20-cm depth for typical target features. Currently availabletransmitters cannot address all of the operating requirements: Q-switched lasers based on Erbium do not meet the pulse width requirements due to the low gain; mode-locked lasers do not provide a robust solution and excessive PRFs lead to range ambiguity;in OPOs, sensitivity to phase-mismatch, pump parameters, and build-up inhibit efficient sub-nanosecond pulse generation; and bulk Raman lasers are inefficient under low energy, high PRF operation. CTI proposes a breakthrough miniature, short-pulse (<1-nanosecond) eyesafe transmitter to meet the requirements for a scanning ladar system. The transmitter combines two proprietary technologies for pulse compression, high efficiency and high beam quality. Together with a novel approach to rugged opticalcomponent mounting, this provides a robust and compact transmitter architecture. Phase I will validate the novel transmitter and mount concepts. Phase II will develop and test prototype transceive