Sanders Associates Limited

Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Evan P Chicklis

Peter Ketteridge

Charles S Naiman

Scott D Setzler

Peter A Budni

York E Young

Kenneth D Labaugh

John L Barrett

Mark Gregory Knights

Eric J Gustafson

James R Mosto

A resonantly pumped, trivalent thulium ion (Tm3+) doped, crystal laser with improved efficiency is disclosed. Embodiments are pumped from the 3H6 ground state manifold to the 1st excited 3F4 state manifold by photons with wavelengths between 1.4 and 2.2 microns and laser wavelengths ranging from 1.5 to 2.4 microns arising from 3F4 to 3H6 transitions ensue, with output wavelengths dependant upon the choice of pump wavelength, crystalline host, and resonator optics.

Resonantly pumped Tm doped cyrstalline lasers

A system for laser induced reduction of visual acuity suitable for crowd control and disabling of individuals uses an eye-safe pulsed IR source in which a laser beam is imaged onto the cornea of an individual to heat the cornea, thereby to cause defocusing and disorientation.

Laser induced reduction of visual acuity

Commercial aircraft are protected from attack by infrared seeking guided missiles through the utilization of a ground-based directed infrared countermeasure system in which the deployment of an IR guided missile is detected off-aircraft and more particularly on the ground. An infrared laser beam is projected towards the detected missile such that the projected laser infrared radiation impinges upon the missile from the rear. The off-axis infrared radiation illuminates the IR transmissive dome at the head of the missile where it is internally reflected back towards the IR detector carried by the missile through the total internal reflection characteristics of the dome. The domes of these missiles are typically made of a high index of refraction IR transmissive materials such that the material is prone to total internal reflection. The infrared laser generated radiation is a modulated so as to interfere with the guidance system of the missile causing it to execute a turn and plunge to the ground. In one embodiment, the long wavelength infrared laser is a 100-W laser with a beam width of 100 microradians, thus to provide a zone of protection of about three miles.

Back illumination method for counter measuring IR guided missiles

The present invention is an amplifier for amplifying an optic signal. The amplifier includes a signal source transmitting the signal, which includes a signal portion in the L-band. The signal first passes into a first signal manipulator. The first signal manipulator is one or more collimators and/or concentrators and, in some embodiments, can include dichroics or optical manipulators known to those skilled in the art. An input pump is aligned to overlap the signal with pump light. From the first signal manipulator, the signal and the pump light intersects the erbium doped crystal, wherein the pump light excites the crystal and the signal impinges the crystal, amplifying the signal.

Erbium doped crystal amplifier

An eyesafe, Q-switched, laser system for target identification, ranging, and gated viewing purposes features a Resonant Pumped Erbium (RPE) laser, which exhibits a longer storage lifetime that minimizes the number of diodes needed to pump optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) or Raman converters. The RPE laser is in band to I devices.

Eyesafe Q-switched laser

A high efficiency storage laser is achieved by pumping a Tm:LiYF.sub.4 laser from an electrically excited XeBr* fluorescer.

High efficiency storage laser

A compact low-cost laser is provided by employing a solid state laser rod which is pumped by the optical radiation from the direct combustion of a metal in a flowing oxygen atmosphere.

Low cost laser

An eye-safe laser cloud height rangefinder comprising an Er:LiYF.sub.4 laser operating at 1.73 .mu.m and a germanium detector.

Eye-safe laser cloud height rangefinder

Wavelength diversity in solid state lasers is achieved by providing a single laser rod comprising a host material and two different active ion species wherein each of the active ions also sensitizes the other active ion. The invention herein described was made in the course of or under a contract or subcontract thereunder with the Department of the Air Force.

Multi-color, activator-activator laser

A room temperature, optically pumped, solid state laser operating at 0.75 micrometers including a Ho.sup.3+ :LiYF.sub.4 crystal provides an excellent source for optical target location systems and other applications which require a source of high peak power in the spectral region just beyond the visible - the 'Deep Red'.

Deep red laser

A single reticle is provided having spectral and spatial filtering characteristics such that it may be employed in radiation responsive systems for both passive tracking and active tracking employing a laser target designator.

Growing community of inventors

Nashua, NH, United States of America

Evan P Chicklis