DON27BZ02-NV025 TITLE: Innovative Shortwave Infrared High Energy Laser Source and Coupled Imager

OUSW (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Scaled Directed Energy (SCADE)

COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY PRIORITY AREA(S): Advanced Materials;Directed Energy (DE);Integrated Sensing and Cyber

PROJECTED CMMC LEVEL REQUIREMENT: Level 2 (Self)

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120-130, which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services, including export of sensitive technical data, or the Export Administration Regulation (EAR), 15 CFR Parts 730-774, which controls dual use items. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals (FNs), their country(ies) of origin, the type of visa or work permit possessed, and the statement of work (SOW) tasks intended for accomplishment by the FN(s) in accordance with the Announcement. Offerors are advised foreign nationals proposed to perform on this topic may be restricted due to the technical data under US Export Control Laws. 

OBJECTIVE: Develop and demonstrate a compact, ruggedized high-energy laser source operating at the 1.9-2.5 micron wavelength with variable Continuous wave and pulsed output [zero to kilowatt kW class average powers] with a time-coupled imaging range gated imaging sensor, capable of real time or near real time doppler data collection & object visualization with ten meter (threshold) to sub-meter (objective) scale range selection, and suitable for maneuvering object discrimination at kilometers of distance at low altitudes, in a quiescent (threshold) or turbulent (objective) maritime atmospheric condition.

DESCRIPTION: The Navy desires a short wave infrared high energy laser illuminator and coupled range-gated imaging sensor, including optics, operating in 1.9-2.5 micron wavelength to increase engagement ranges in adverse marine atmospheric conditions that include absorption, Mie and Rayleigh scattering, thermal blooming, etc. and able to operate in continuous wave (CW) or pulsed operation modes – at a variable power level up to kilowatt powers (average). Adjustable wavelength tunability to match to optimal atmospheric penetration and transmission within the band specified is required. If the entire band is not accessible, then rationale must be provided for limitation or selections made. In addition, it requires these to be ruggedized, so they are suitable to be installed on maritime platforms (i.e., ships, USMC ground vehicles, and aircraft) and be in a wavelength regime that is considered "eye-safer" when considering issues of defuse reflection or scatter when nearby observers are present. Gimbal and optics development or advancements in the shortwave infrared regimes may be offered but are not the primary technical objective in consideration for this topic.

Recent advances in laser sources [Ref 1] with high beam quality at the 2 micron wavelength, using Holmium and Thulium doped fiber optic-based power gain amplifiers, have shown a potential pathways for innovation to reach higher average powers (in Continuous Wave operation) in the multi-kilowatt regime, within the 2.0 to 2.4 micron (µm) band and falling within an atmospheric spectral short-wave infrared (SWIR) transmission band due to their low absorption of light by atmospheric water vapor. A pulsed system with a pulse gated optical imaging sensor offers the unique opportunity to not only provide a simple Laser Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) capability but also provide doppler-based discrimination information on the imaged objects – which could exceed systems’ capabilities typical from the 1.0-1.6 micron near infrared (NIR) band. The marine wave boundary layer (MWBL) can have higher scattering properties when comparing NIR to the selected SWIR bands, and is considered less detectable using widely available commercial, uncooled sensors than standard visible to NIR based illumination systems. A system that can operate in either CW or coupled pulse modes with a time resolved, range gated sensor and with high resolution windowing is the primary objective of this topic.

The Navy and Department of War seeks a unified approach with a scalable prototype device for use in evaluation for Electro-magnetic (EM) Spectrum warfare with an objective of gaining military advantages and achieving freedom of action across missions in support of maritime, surface warfare. However, the one system should show an ability to handle two separate capabilities developed through scaling. The first is development of a small, compact, lightweight SWIR (2.0-2.4 wavelength) high energy laser illuminator and coupled range-gated imaging sensor, including necessary optics suitable for short range sensing from small (group I or II) unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. While shorter ranges are acceptable for these missions (tens to hundreds of meters), the need for higher power still exists to conduct object discrimination at longer range (kilometers) and collect as much information (e.g., doppler shifts) from sensors as is technically possible. These smaller devices may diverge because of the requirements of size, weight and power (SWaP) toward a lower power-ganged diode array of microbolometers that has sufficient optical gain sensitivity to achieve doppler data, at the sacrifice of higher resolution spatial data typically obtained from devices that are based on focal plane arrays. Hybrid approaches combining sensor types shall be considered. Imaged target objects are expected to be in centimeter to meter size, and either stationary or have relatively low velocities (meters per second).

At the other end of the scale, a desire exists for a larger, fixed placement optical device on a moving or mobile platform (i.e., ground, air or sea-based vehicle) that can accurately discriminate and range objects at significantly greater distances (hundreds of meters to tens of thousands of meters) and are larger (tens of meters in length) with higher velocities (from tens to hundreds of meters per second). These systems require significantly higher source power, larger optics and higher quality vibration control, longer photonic travel distance, shorter pulse lengths, and higher peak power; have longer latency of time from emission to reception; and include the optical distortions that occur during light travel, reflection, and return. These larger devices may favor a combination of both focal plane arrays with coupled microbolometers using highly resolution time coupled range gating techniques, and significant relaxation of SWaP and include potentials for active cooling. However, the complexities of field conditions where the systems are deployed can vary greatly, with humidity (0-100%), rain, fog, particulates, and temperature variation (-55°C to +125°C) are not negotiable for either class of system. The need for higher laser power may be approached by beam combining smaller sources, but simplicity is preferred with ruggedness to dynamic shocks required under this topic, at least initially.

This effort is driven by both new threats and available and emerging technologies that have the potential to vastly improve the agility and flexibility of the Navy systems by utilizing high-energy lasers for Battle Space Supremacy and Water Space Management as envisioned by the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). The current technology for High Energy Laser (HEL) at this wavelength for kilowatt class amplifiers is in early development. A major challenge exists for this technology to be viable for development of doped fiber for the 2 µm kW class fiber amplified systems; however, other potential laser source types will be considered. Gaseous and chemical lasers are not considered to be acceptable for this solicitation. The Navy seeks to address the manufacturability, electrical-to-optical (EO) efficiency and conduct technology risk assessments and risk reduction of this class of solid-state laser amplifier design.

Work produced in Phase II may become classified. Note: The prospective contractor(s) must be U.S. owned and operated with no foreign influence as defined by 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq., National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual, unless acceptable mitigating procedures can and have been implemented and approved by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) formerly Defense Security Service (DSS). The selected contractor and/or subcontractor must be able to acquire and maintain a secret level facility and Personnel Security Clearances. This will allow contractor personnel to perform on advanced phases of this project as set forth by DCSA and ONR in order to gain access to classified information pertaining to the national defense of the United States and its allies; this will be an inherent requirement. The selected company will be required to safeguard classified material during the advanced phases of this contract IAW the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which can be found at Title 32, Part 2004.20 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

PHASE I: Develop, demonstrate, and deliver a small scale, efficient, coupled prototype high energy laser and coupled imager module system suitable for testing and evaluation on a class I or class II unmanned air vehicle or fixed ground system. Document the development, design, and if possible- demonstrate IP67 rating compliance with a scale device, where the device is completely dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion in water (between 15 cm and 1 meter deep) for up to 30 minutes as defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) IP67 standards. Provide initial laboratory or field test results and analyses. Alternately, a benchtop experiment with a IP67 system design may be offered.

Demonstrate the scalability of individual components to increase power to achieve higher output power with higher beam quality. Deliver the prototype to the NSWC Dahlgren Navy lab to evaluate the performance of the system in terms of power specifications, wavelength, beam quality and EO efficiency for a HEL prototype system that can meet Navy performance goals.

Develop and design, but do not build, a scalable prototype laser (kW class) module for long distance sensing by delivering analysis and documentation of the design as an entry for Phase II with a selected use case. Establish the feasibility of the design. Complete any required market survey needed to show sourcing of components, that the developed approach is technically sound, and that a conceptual device is deliverable at the end of Phase II. Indicate areas where specific design details may require additional technical study and testing to ensure that higher resolution imaging with long range discrimination of objects can be improved or how additional data analysis of doppler information would impact design trades. Develop a conceptual manufacturing plan related to sensor options and capabilities that include cost estimates for Phase II.

PHASE II: Develop, demonstrate, and deliver a scaled up larger, coupled prototypical high energy laser and imaging sensor and optics system suitable for field testing and evaluation mounted into a system determined within Phase I. Document the design and demonstrate environmental containment and ruggedization of the device on a shake table that emulates the motion and vibrational spectrum of the platform. Demonstrate high power output in continuous wave operation for at least 5 minutes. Demonstrate pulsed laser to sensor object discrimination and utility of individual components to achieve higher accuracy at longer ranges and compare capabilities to more traditional commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) LIDAR based rangefinders for the selected and intended use cases. Demonstrate laser output power variability while maintaining higher beam quality. Deliver the prototype to the Naval Research Laboratory or the NSWC Dahlgren Navy lab to evaluate the performance of the system in terms of power specifications, wavelength, beam quality and EO efficiency for a HEL prototype system in field testing, reaching expected Navy performance goals.

Develop, design, and build, a scalable prototype laser (kW class) module for long distance sensing. Deliver analysis and documentation of the design as an entry for Phase II. Complete any required market survey needed to show sourcing of components and developed approach is technically sound and that a conceptual device is deliverable and able to be tested at the end of Phase II at longer ranges. Indicate areas where specific design details may require additional technical study and testing to ensure that higher resolution imaging with long range discrimination of objects can be improved or how additional data analysis of doppler information would impact design trades.

Work in Phase II may become classified. Please see note in the Description.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support Navy technologies transition for Department of War use. Show the scalability of source power from micro or milliwatt levels to multi-kilowatt class operation and beyond in the shortwave infrared regime.

Ultimately, laser sources and coupled sensor subsystems will be deployed on surface ships, ground vehicles, or air vehicles – with potentials for other Navy or U.S. Marine Corps platforms to advance the future electromagnetic spectrum operational warfighting capabilities. Both the power specifications and wavelength of operation and electrical to optical (EO) efficiency will be tested at either the Naval Research Laboratory or at the NSWC Dahlgren-Navy HEL test facility.

Potential dual use of this system: manufacturing such as cutting/welding, optical communication and use in space or airborne platform for sensing and geospatial mapping. The most important characteristics of this wavelength are it is less affected by atmospheric distortions when operated near marine wave boundary layer (MWBL) and the consideration for "eye-safer" operation when the pulsed emission is diffusely reflected or resulting from scattered light – greatly reducing the potential for eye damage from photonic energy interaction with the structure of the human eye.

REFERENCES:

1. Shaw, L.Brandon et al. "Fabrication of Cladded Single Crystal Fibers for All-Crystalline Fiber Lasers." Advanced Photonics, Optica Publishing Group, 2018.. https://doi.org/10.1364/SOF.2018.SoW2H.3
2. Wu, J. et al. "Single-frequency fiber laser at 2.05 m based on Ho-doped germanate glass fiber." Fiber Lasers VI: Technology, Systems, and Applications, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 7195, 2009, 71951K. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.809482
3. Lombard, L.et al. "Eyesafe coherent detection wind lidar based on a beam-combined pulsed laser source." Opt. Lett. 2015, 40, pp. 1030-033. https://opg.optica.org/ol/abstract.cfm?uri=ol-40-6-1030
4. Dombrowski, Mark et al. "Object discrimination and optical performance of a real-time 2-5 um hyperspectral imager." Proc. SPIE 6233, Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral, and Ultraspectral Imagery XII, 62330Q, 8 May 2006. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.665906
5. "National Industrial Security Program Executive Agent and Operating Manual (NISP), 32 U.S.C. § 2004.20 et seq. 1993." https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-32/subtitle-B/chapter-XX/part-2004

KEYWORDS: High Energy Laser; Short Wave infrared; SWIR; Laser Detection and Ranging; IDAR, Doppler, Optical Amplifier; Optical Efficiency; Electro Magnetic Spectrum; Marine Wave Boundary Layer; marine wave boundary layer; MWBL

TPOC 1: Peter Morrison
peter.a.morrison.civ@us.navy.mil

TPOC 2: Christopher Wilson
christopher.r.wilson115.civ@us.navy.mil

TPOC3: Lauren Perez
lauren.m.perez10.civ@us.navy.mil