Northrop Grumman Doubles Several Phase I DARPA Fiber Laser Targets

Ad Support : Nano Technology   Netbook    Technology News    Computer Software

Northrop Grumman Corporation has surpassed Phase I goals for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Revolution in Fiber Lasers (RIFL) program that seeks to mature fiber laser technology

Northrop Grumman’s fiber laser page.

With a 1 kilowatt (kW) single mode fiber amplifier, the company demonstrated a near-perfect beam quality of better than 1.2 and efficiency better than 30 percent, twice the program’s goal of 15 percent. Northrop Grumman also demonstrated a polarization extinction ratio of 50:1, and extremely low phase noise, which is essential for the coherent combination of laser chains used to scale power to weapons-class levels.

The $4.6 million, 18-month Phase II DARPA contract calls for scaling power to 3kW in a single mode fiber amplifier. The company has patents on techniques used to facilitate combination of many fiber amplifier beams, while maintaining near-ideal beam quality. The ultimate goal is to develop the technology to 100kW, the power necessary to field a lethal laser weapon

Revolution in Fiber Laser plan from 2007

If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on Reddit, or StumbleUpon. Thanks

Supporting Advertising

Business Success
   How to Make Money    
Executive Jobs  
Paid Surveys

Thank You