Next Generation High Power Broadband MWIR Emitters for TOPS

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with Thorlabs Quantum Electronics (TQE), proposes to develop a new, state-of-the-art, high power, broadband mid-wave infrared (MWIR) laser for use in the Towed Optical Plume Simulator (TOPS). During the Phase I program the PSI led team will demonstrate that these new broadband devices can overcome the limitations of the current narrow spectral bandwidth Fabry-Perot (FP)-QCLs and provide performance data and mechanical and optical designs for a new laser module that is compatible with the current TOPS IR emitter system. Custom, wavelength-selected high power broadband lasers will be designed and fabricated by TQE during the Phase II program for integration and testing in the TOPS IR emitter system. This successful SBIR effort will result in an infrared emitter design that reduces the cost and simplifies the optical design of the current TOPS system by reducing the number of lasers required to fill the spectral regions of interest for simulation of missile signatures.