Special Technology Area Review on Lost Cost, Mass Producible, Solid- State Lasers

摘要

This STAR proposes an innovative program in laser technology, one that will bring optical manufacturing closer to the automated processes characteristic of the electronics industry. The basic goals will be to obtain higher efficiency, lower cost, and more reliable lasers. If this effort is successful, it should be possible to make well integrated, monolithic, inexpensive laser systems that are also rugged, stable and long-lived. Many current Department of Defense (DoD) mission areas require battlespace sensors and directed energy solutions. Vital military laser applications include range finders, illuminators, beam riders, and designators, and laser radar. Recent DoD studies (such as LASSOS: Lasers and Space Optical Systems and DE-ATAC: Directed Energy Advanced Tactical Airborne Combat) describe the key enabling laser technologies needed in the future as a) agile multi-wavelength lasers and b) high efficiency electric lasers. Important mission areas include countermeasures, chemical warfare agent detection and identification, nighttime imaging, tunnel and underground structure detection, and tactical directed energy weapons. These laser systems need to be efficient, compact, lightweight, inexpensive, easily transportable and maintainable, rugged, reliable, and capable of operation in widely diverse environments. Unfortunately, current lasers often do not meet many of these requirements. To meet these requirements, a new generation of solid-state laser technology is necessary. The basic goal of a successful program in military solid-state lasers should be the improvement, over the next five years, of a factor of three or more in many of the parameters that define the operational capability of these systems.