High Performance Compact Medium-Power Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) Laser System for Shipboard Deployment Navy SBIR FY2018.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2018.1 Topic No.: N181-054 Topic Title: High Performance Compact Medium-Power Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR) Laser System for Shipboard Deployment Proposal No.: N181-054-0213 Firm: Forward Photonics LLC 500 West Cummings Park Suite 1900 Woburn, Massachusetts 1801 Contact: Robin Huang Phone: (978) 224-5488 Web Site: http://www.forwardphotonics.com Abstract: Recent progress has been made in the development of medium-power quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) for use in airborne countermeasures, particularly in the adoption of Daylight Solutionsƒ?T Solaris Laser in the Armyƒ?Ts Common Infrared Countermeasure (CIRCM) program and Forward Photonicsƒ?T high brightness 25 W laser. These developments to date have been targeted in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR), however with ever increasing threat sophistication there is a real need to expand the wavelength regime of these countermeasures to more diverse wavelengths, in particular the long-wave infrared (LWIR). Forward Photonics has had remarkable success using its proprietary wavelength beam combination (WBC) technology in the mid-infrared regime (4 ƒ?" 5 Aæm) with QCLs. Forward Photonicsƒ?T mid-wave infrared (MWIR) laser capable of producing > 25 W in CW operation by using WBC to combine the outputs of individual high power QCLs. Forward Photonics is proposing a technical approach to construct a 100 W LWIR system based on WBC of high power QCLs. Benefits: Lasers designed by Forward Photonics contain these key advantages over existing solid state lasers: ƒ?› Robust, compact, efficient all-semiconductor based laser solutions ƒ?› Semiconductor based lasers with single aperture output and high power (>1 kW) and high beam quality ƒ?› Very low size, weight, and power (SWaP) ƒ?› Inherently efficient diode-based approach, requiring minimal cooling, reducing system size and ruggedness. Return