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23 May 2012 QCL as a game changer in MWIR and LWIR military and homeland security applications
C. Kumar N. Patel, Arkadiy Lyakh, Richard Maulini, Alexei Tsekoun, Boris Tadjikov
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Proceedings Volume 8373, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications IV; 83732E (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.920476
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Abstract
QCLs represent an important advance in MWIR and LWIR laser technology. With the demonstration of CW/RT QCLs, large number applications for QCLs have opened up, some of which represent replacement of currently used laser sources such as OPOs and OPSELs, and others being new uses which were not possible using earlier MWIR/LWIR laser sources, namely OPOs, OPSELs and CO2 lasers. Pranalytica has made significant advances in CW/RT power and WPE of QCLs and through its invention of a new QCL structure design, the non-resonant extraction, has demonstrated single emitter power of >4.7 W and WPE of >17% in the 4.4μm-5.0μm region. Pranalytica has also been commercially supplying the highest power MWIR QCLs with high WPEs. The NRE design concept now has been extended to the shorter wavelengths (3.8μm-4.2μm) with multiwatt power outputs and to longer wavelengths (7μm-10μm) with >1 W output powers. The high WPE of the QCLs permits RT operation of QCLs without using TECs in quasi-CW mode where multiwatt average powers are obtained even in ambient T>70°C. The QCW uncooled operation is particularly attractive for handheld, battery-operated applications where electrical power is limited. This paper describes the advances in QCL technology and applications of the high power MWIR and LWIR QCLs for defense applications, including protection of aircraft from MANPADS, standoff detection of IEDs, insitu detection of CWAs and explosives, infrared IFF beacons and target designators. We see that the SWaP advantages of QCLs are game changers.
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C. Kumar N. Patel, Arkadiy Lyakh, Richard Maulini, Alexei Tsekoun, and Boris Tadjikov "QCL as a game changer in MWIR and LWIR military and homeland security applications", Proc. SPIE 8373, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications IV, 83732E (23 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.920476
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KEYWORDS
Quantum cascade lasers
Mid-IR
Explosives
Long wavelength infrared
Sensors
Laser sources
Laser applications
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