Nd:GGG Adhesive-Free Bonding to enable 100kW Heat Capacity Laser for Ground and Air Based Missile Defense Systems

Onyx Optics herein seeks SBIR funding to further its efforts related to GGG Adhesive-Free Bonding (AFB) for the 100kW Heat Capacity Laser program. To date efforts have focused on AFB of parasitic absorbing Cr4+:GGG claddings onto a central Nd:GGG slab. Thework being proposed here also would evaluate edge-bonding of Nd:GGG to itself to facilitate larger size crystals than currently able to be grown by crystal growth techniques, in order to satisfy the slab size requirements for the Heat Capacity Laserprogram. Bonding interface behavior for GGG is not yet fully understood and not reproducible for large (6" x 2") cross sections. Some of the AFB interfaces produced to date have been acceptable for cladding architectures, but not for edge-bonding of Nd:GGGto make crystals larger than currently can be grown.The principal objective is to meet the requirements of the Heat Capacity Laser program for final-sized clad composite amplifier plates. Onyx AFB is expected to enable the most compact possible Heat Capacity Laser design, in order that such a system may bedeployed in airborne missile defense systems such as ABL and UAV, as well as ground-based systems. Completion of a Phase I & II SBIR on this subject would enable a reliable supply of AFB GGG slab components of sufficient size and quality, to satisfy the design requirements of the Heat Capacity Laser program.