Modular Efficient Laser Technology (MELT)
Abstract
The Modular Efficient Laser Technology (MELT) program will demonstrate the first compact, high-power laser tile as the key building block to enable the next generation of scalable high energy laser (HEL) sources for laser weapon systems (LWS). Today's LWS use fiber laser array HEL sources, complex optical benches, and beam directors. These systems are large and heavy, contain large numbers of individual components, and require skilled labor to fabricate and integrate. This makes current LWS difficult and costly to manufacture, limiting their deployment and application. MELT will leverage recent advances in coherent beam combining and photonic integrated circuits (PICs) fabrication techniques to develop tiled arrays integrated with semiconductor-based optical systems, low-loss waveguides, optical interconnects, and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) into a compact laser tile that can be integrated with a supporting backplane to provide scalable HEL sources. This will provide the LWS developer a scalable HEL architecture that maintains excellent beam quality and allow LWS deployment on SWaP-constrained platforms. MELT will leverage a mature industrial base for semiconductor manufacturing, as well as recent advances in photonic integrated circuits, coherent beam combining algorithms, semiconductor cooling techniques, and optical lithography to achieve its program goals. Technologies from this program are intended for transition to Army, Air Force, and Navy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- f18e1cbfe7ac452c158ee7faaf0597da