US military contractor develops improved laser using aluminium composite crystal

A United States defense contractor has developed a laser amplifier using Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG) nanopowder. The new amplifier allows for rapid target engagement, low cost, and a high quantity of rounds.

nGimat, Co., a contractor to the Air Force Research Laboratory, developed the technology on a small scale with financial assistance from the United States Army. However, when another defense contractor expressed interest in a scaled-up version of the technology, nGimat lacked the capital to meet such a demand. When the Army was unable to fund the project, the Air Force, via its Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR), stepped in and provided a US$750,000 grant to make the project happen.

“The Department of Defense has worked hard to improve polycrystalline YAG for lasers, and this effort by nGimat is the natural next step,” said Air Force project engineer Dr. Ken Hopkins. “In addition, it will enable innovative laser designs being pursued by U.S. defense companies.”

nGimat and another defense contractor have already begun working to develop and produce the equipment needed to produce and handle the nanomaterials in such a way as to insure the requisite high purity.

“With continued development and the installation of dedicated production systems employing the proper controls and system feedbacks, we expect that nGimat will achieve the proper certifications and manufacturing capabilities to ensure reliability, purity and consistency, and product volumes to meet the [Department of Defense]’s laser development needs,” explained Dr. Hopkins.

The new technology is expected to produce lasers that, at roughly one US dollar per shot, cost much less than conventional large munitions. The laser system has a very large magazine – it will fire until the batteries drain, and those batteries can be charged while the platform aircraft is in flight. The Air Force plans to develop this technology into laser weapons systems and missile defense systems.