Application: Defense

Summary
A new class of applications are being pursued with QPC's semiconductor lasers because of their high brightness, high power performance.

Traditionally, diode lasers have used in printing, defense, medical, and materials processing because of the device compactness, high power capability, and high electrical to optical efficiency. However, the applications have been limited due to the low brightness performance of typical diode lasers. QPC's high brightness, high power semiconductor laser technology is enabling new applications in these markets, allowing the end user to achieve high brightness and enjoy all the benefits of traditional diode lasers.

Application: Defense
Because of their compact size and light weight and ruggedness, semiconductor lasers are ideal for military and aerospace applications. Used directly or as pumps for other lasers, semiconductor lasers are used in a wide variety of applications including both the transmission optical energy to a target and receiving a portion of it back in order to measure various physical properties of the target in a remote fashion. QPC's high brightness semiconductor laser technology is enabling diode lasers to be used directly in applications where DPSS lasers were the only solution, i.e., countermeasures, target designation, and potentially even high energy lasers.

Defense lasers that transmit energy to the target are common at both low and high power levels. On the low power end (<500mW), direct diode lasers are used for free-space communications for line of sight transmission. At slightly higher power, direct diode lasers are used to initiate ordinances. For even higher powers and long wavelengths, diode lasers can be used directly or to pump solid state lasers which disable incoming heat seeking missiles. At the highest power levels of 50-100kW, high energy solid state lasers for missile defense are being developed. These lasers use >100kW of diode pump light per laser and are expected to be deployed by land, sea, and air in the years to come.

Another class of defense laser is those which are used to extract information from a target. At the low power end, for example, rangefinding lasers enable the user measure distance and illuminators enable the user to view unprecedented levels of detail. At higher power, remote sensing and LIDAR lasers allow the user to detect bio-chemical agents, clear air turbulence and other atmospheric conditions. Target designation lasers are used to remotely point to a target and is particularly useful non-stationary targets.