Surface Structure Anti-Reflection for Non-Linear Optical Materials with Extreme Laser Damage Resistance and Wide Bandwidth

Near term ultra-high-intensity laser weapon systems advanced as part of the U.S. Air Force Air Superiority and Rapid Global Strike Core Missions, have the potential to counter emerging hypersonic threats.ááSuch efficient and agile lasers rely on novel solid-state nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals that operate over wide tuning ranges with extreme resistance to damage at scale.ááConventional anti-reflection (AR) treatments for NLO crystal facets based on the deposition of thin-film material layers, cannot survive the fluence levels enabled by NLO crystals.ááTelAztecĺs ôMotheyeö and Random Anti-Reflection (RAR) treatments provide the critical AR function by fabricating a dense array of surface relief structures etched directly into an optic surface.ááInheriting the optical, thermal, and mechanical properties of the host material, AR nano-textured surfaces exhibit ultra-low reflection losses and maximum laser damage resistance enabling fluence levels up to the operational limits of the bulk material. Motheye and RAR fabrication processes have been demonstrated for a wide range of relevant optical materials such as fused silica, sapphire,áyttrium aluminum garnet (YAG),áand diamond.ááA commercially robust and patented process has yielded many tens of thousands of RAR nano-textured fused silica optics for industrial and semiconductor laser equipment, and the high reliability and stability of nano-textured optics has advanced several military programs.ááThis experience has qualified TelAztec to apply for this Direct to Phase II (D2P2) effort where the benefits of RAR nano-texturing will be realized inátungstate-based third-orderáNLO media such asápotassium gadolinium tungstate (KGW) and potassium yttrium tungstate (KYW).ááIn collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), commercial leaders such as Coherent, and military primes such as General Atomics and Raytheon, TelAztec will demonstrate and test Motheye AR and RAR nano-structured crystals operating over huge wave bands within high pulse energy and kilo-watt (kW) class laser systems.ááFull scale nano-textured crystals will be delivered throughout the 24-month project, and commercially exciting products will drive a Phase III effort.