High Brightness, Wavelength Selectable, Eye safe Pulsed solid state laser

High power solid state lasers are a key part of active sensors in hard target tracking/identification and optical remote sensing. There is a strong need for a simple, robust, power-scaleable laser (> O.5J/50pps) that provides access to the 1.4 to 2.5 micron wavelength range, delivers near diffraction limited beam quality and produces temporally short pulses. The baseline approach proposed to meet these requirements is a Solid State Raman Laser (SSRL). When compared to other IR laser sources and frequency converters, SSRLs offer significant performance advantages, including Raman-induced beam clean-up for improved on-target irradiance and Raman-induced temporal pulse compression for enhanced range resolution. Moreover, SSRLs are not birefringent phase matched, as Optical Parametric Oscillators are, so high power operation is not limited by thermallyinduced dephasing. The resultant higher powers will extend sensor detection ranges. Robust misalignment-tolerant SSRLs also offer smaller, more reliable systems. Coupling our Corporate experience in SSRLs and turnkey field-worthy electro-optic systems facilitates new dual-use remote sensing products. Phase I will (1) produce no-adjustable-parameter calculations for SSRL power-scaling, (2) compare the results to power scaling OPOs, (3) establish preliminary designs and (4) execute risk reduction measurements on a breadboard system to ensure technical feasibility for Phase II.