Superior Composite Materials for High Heat Flux Laser Diode Array Thermal Management

High efficiency cooling systems for the state-of-the-art high heat flux laser diodes is the key to the successful development of compact and operational airborne and space-based directed energy weapons applications. Current cooling systems for high heatflux laser diodes are limited to less than 500 W/cm2 waste heat removal. Foster-Miller will demonstrate innovative laser thermal management incorporating passive and active cooling for efficient heat sinking performance, with improved heat removalcapabilities in the 4 kW range.Our concept will enable significant enhancement of the laser diode performance and array/module power output, size and mass. Our cooling system concept is inherently scalable to high power and not susceptible to its performance deterioration underairborne and space-based service conditions. In Phase I, Foster-Miller will produce heat sink specimens and demonstrate their efficacy in heat removal and device temperature control. In Phase II, the technology will be refined and repeatability inperformance will be demonstrated. A thermal management package will be developed for a specific high heat flux laser diode array module. Working with our highly qualified team member, a major laser diode array manufacturer, Foster-Miller will demonstratethese innovations in its current quasi-CW laser diode array module. (P-030281) Foster-Miller, together with its team member, proposes to develop and fabricate an innovative integral thermal management system for the laser diode array module, especially suitable for pumping of high-power solid state lasers. Successful developmentof our heat sink concept for laser diode arrays thermal management will be applicable for several military and commercial thermal management applications in electronics, communications and industrial laser markets.