Splitter for High Energy Lasers

To address the Navy’s need for a capability to efficiently split the power of a high-energy laser (HEL) beam into two outputs, Intellisense Systems, Inc. (Intellisense) proposes to develop a Splitter for High-Energy Lasers (SHEL). SHEL uses an innovative, tunable grating to provide continuously variable splitting ratios, including complete switching between channels and ratios of 50/50 to 20/80, with >99% transmission efficiency in <0.1 s. By incorporating fundamentally rugged components and substrates, the grating can support continuous wave laser power levels of up to 785 MW, well above the Navy’s 300 kW goal, and can be deployed on Navy vessels. This is combined with a novel thermal management subsystem that mitigates thermal lensing and related effects, thus reducing beam quality degradation to <5%. All of SHEL’s subsystems incorporate automatic control and feedback loops, eliminating the need for manned intervention. SHEL is designed for laser wavelengths at or near 1.0 micron, supports beam apertures of up to 100 cm, and can split unpolarized or mixed-polarization lasers. In Phase I, Intellisense will develop a concept for a HEL beam splitter that meets the Navy’s objectives and demonstrate the feasibility of the concept in meeting the Navy’s need through analysis, modeling, and simulation. Intellisense will analyze and predict SHEL’s performance in real conditions, including its ability to handle the input power required. As part of the concept, Intellisense will include a means to test the technology on surrogate hardware. In the Phase I Option, Intellisense will include the initial design specifications and capabilities description to build a prototype solution in Phase II. In Phase II, Intellisense will develop and deliver a prototype SHEL unit based on the concept, analysis, preliminary design, and specifications resulting from Phase I. Intellisense will demonstrate the technology in Phase II through tests of the prototype in a laboratory or controlled outdoor environment utilizing surrogate lasers. At the conclusion of Phase II, the prototype hardware and software will be delivered to Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren along with complete test data, installation and operation instructions, and any auxiliary software and special hardware necessary to operate the prototype.