ULTRAFAST OPTICAL SWITCHES FOR ECCM

THE EMPLOYMENT OF CONTINUOUS AND PULSED LASERS IN TARGET DESIGNATION AND COMBAT SITUATIONS IS INCREASING, CREATING THE NEED FOR CONTINUOUSLY AND REVERSIBLY SWITCHING DEVICES TO PROTECT COMBAT PERSONNEL AND SENSITIVE SENSING EQUIPMENT WITH TUNABLE LASER SYSTEMS NECISSITATING BROAD BAND PROTECTION. THE PROGRAM PROPOSED HEREIN WILL SEEK TO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING A NOVEL TECHNOLOGY, BASED ON NONLINEAR OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF INSTRINSICALLY SWITCHABLE CONDUCTING POLYMER SYSTEMS FOR THIS PURPOSE. LABORATORY MODELS WILL BE MADE EMPLOYING POLYMER SYSTEMS THAT CAN BE SWITCHED EXTERNALLY OR INTRINSICALLY. THE DEVICES WOULD BE INHERENTLY RADIATION HARD. THE PHASE I RESEARCH IS AIMED MAINLY AT CONCEPT FEASIBILITY DEMONSTRATION, AND WILL LEAD TO THE SELECTION OF A FEW OPTIMAL POLYMER SYSTEMS AND DEVICE DESIGNS. EXTENSIVE TESTING AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE OPTICAL, ELECTROCHEMICAL AND OTHER PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF THE DEVICES IS ANTICIPATED IN PHASE II.