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Efficient Mid-Wave Infrared Lasers (EMIL)
Program Manager: Dr. Henryk Temkin
The Efficient Mid-Wave Infrared Lasers (EMIL) program goal is to demonstrate high-power (≥1W) mid-infrared (MIR) lasers operating between 3.8 and 4.8 μm in continuous wave (CW) at room-temperature, with good beam quality, and achieving revolutionary wallplug efficiency of 50%. The military has a pressing need for high efficiency, compact MIR semiconductor lasers with advanced modulation capabilities for infrared countermeasures and remote chemical and biological threat detection systems based on differential absorption LIDAR. Historically, the low wallplug efficiencies of MIR semiconductor lasers, typically around a few percent at room temperature, has precluded or limited their applicability to many potential applications. In contrast, near infrared (NIR) semiconductor lasers have now achieved high power output at room temperature with excellent beam shape and modulation characteristics and with wallplug efficiencies that now exceed 50%. The challenge to be addressed in this program is to achieve laser sources in the MIR of similar performance levels to those already demonstrated in the NIR. With a focus on completely redesigning and revolutionizing the field of Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), the EMIL program is anticipated to result in an enormous improvement in the size, weight, performance, and cost of future military systems that operate at mid-wave infrared wavelengths. In addition, new capabilities, such as the ability to use emerging frequency conversion techniques for practical terahertz frequency generation, are expected to result as a consequence of achieving fundamental advances in wallplug efficiency and QCL performance.
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