The development of new laser sources emitting in the wavelength range from 2 - 5 µm for defence applications includes research on:
- new lasing materials: laser crystals, and silica doped fibres (Thulium, Holmium) [1]
- nonlinear crystals such as zinc germanium phosphide (ZGP), and non-planar optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) [2]
- nonlinear fibres such as fluoride fibres, and supercontinuum generation [3]
Technology Readiness ranges from basic research on laser components to highly ruggedized prototypes.
