ARLINGTON, Va., 19 May 2010. Scientists at the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR) in Arlington, Va., are looking to laser experts at Daylight Solutions Inc. in Poway, Calif., to develop multi-wavelength direct semiconductor laser technology with sufficient power to jam infrared sensors in precision-guided munitions.
ONR awarded a $1.4 million contract to Daylight Solutions last week as part of an electronic warfare (EW) research initiative to develop next-generation technologies to detect and defeat imaging infrared and multi-mode tracking systems, missiles, and other precision guided munitions.
Navy researchers are asking Daylight Solutions to develop a compact laser to defeat guided munitions that employ scanning and focal-plane-array imaging sensors that operate in the infrared spectral bands -- especially the atmospheric transmission bands at roughly 1-2, 3-5, and 8-12 microns that are designed to passively track targets, guide weapons, and negate the effectiveness of infrared countermeasures.
Daylight Solutions specializes in quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based molecular detection and imaging systems that combine QC gain media with patented external cavity quantum cascade laser (ECqcL) technology, resulting in a broadly tunable or fixed-wavelength mid-infrared laser source.
For more information contact the Office of Naval Research online at www.onr.navy.mil, or Daylight Solutions at www.daylightsolutions.com.
