Cycloidal Fan for Low-Noise Air Management

Active imaging in the short- and mid-wave infrared has well-known benefits versus shorter wavelengths: eye safety, better visibility through battlefield obscurants, high atmospheric trans-mission, and reduced background emission. However, there are nosuitable imaging detectors at eye-safe wavelengths. CTI proposes a nonlinear sum-frequency generator (SFG) to convert an image at 1.55 mm to a shorter wavelength where image intensifiers can be used. In addition, the SFG can provide spectral filtering andoptical range-gating capability. Modern nonlinear optical materials can operate with high efficiency using modest pump sources in a compact design. CTI proposes a SFG converter with a large field-of-view, that is relatively temperature insensitive, andoperates at room temperature. In Phase I, CTI will conduct detailed analyses and laboratory demonstrations to validate the proposed nonlinear up-converter. In Phase II, an imaging breadboard converter will be tested, optimized, and delivered.(1) increasedetection sensitivity in eye-safe laser radar imaging, (2) demonstrate enhanced 2D LADAR imaging through SFG converter, (3) demonstrate receiver techniques through optical range-gating.