Laser Confocal Microscope for High-Energy Laser Windows
Abstract
Large optical windows, up to 20-inches diameter, are needed in high-energy laser systems.Eliminating surface reflectivity and increasing the laser induced damage threshold (LIDT) are bothcritical for these optical components. Our group is developing high transmittance optical windowswith very low loss using a new technology called anti-reflecting surface structures. This surfacenano-structuring eliminates the need for deposited antireflection coatings. We have demonstratedhigh transmittance (> 99%) over the continuous spectral region 800 nm - 1300 nm, on doublesidedprocessed fused silica windows. This technology has the potential to achieve low reflectancefor optical windows for 100 kW to 1 MW laser systems. This project is currently funded throughNRL (N000173-14-1-G019).LIDT has been measured with our structured windows to be an order of magnitude higher thanstandard antireflection (AR) coatings, due to the elimination of thermo-mechanically dissimilarcoated films, as is the case with typical AR coatings. There is no delamination due to materialmismatch at the window surface, and therefore, the windows developed have the potential tohandle the MW-level laser beams, which will help the Navy~s SSL-TMP efforts.We are requesting funding for an Olympus Laser Confocal Microscope for 3D measurement ofhigh LIDT optics and chemical coupons; a capability essential for the success of these programs.The acquisition of such a unique instrument will help us in developing windows and optics forhigh energy lasers with a high laser damage threshold and biomimetic filter-based optical sensingapproach for standoff detection and discrimination of explosives on various environmentalsurfaces, at the long-wavelength infrared region of the spectrum (7-12~m). This project is currentlyfunded through ONR (N00014-16-1-2358). It will also allow our group to train and educate ofseveral currently involved and future US graduate students and postdocs, and will further allowus to accommodate many other DoD applications and optical systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912282
Entities
People
- Ishwar Aggarwal
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte