United States Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL -- Wright Research Site, Det 1 AFRL/PK, Bldg 7, Area B, 2530 C Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433-7607

A -- ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT OF FAR-INFRARED CONVERSION MATERIALS SOL PRDA-99-02-MLK DUE 063099 POC James Satteson, Contract Negotiator, Phone (937)255-5051, Email james.satteson@ws.afrl.af.mil -- Frederick Rueth, Contracting Officer, Phone (937)255-5051, Email frederick.rueth@ws.afrl.af.mil WEB: Visit this URL for the latest information about this, http://www.eps.gov/cgi-bin/WebObjects/EPS?ACode=P&;ProjID=PRDA-99-02-ML K&LocID=904. E-MAIL: James Satteson, james.satteson@ws.afrl.af.mil. Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate (AFRL/MLPO), solicits research and development proposals for "Advanced Development of Far-Infrared Conversion Materials." The principal objective of this effort is to further develop nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals for utilization in optical parametric oscillators, second harmonic generators, and other wavelength conversion devices that operate in the wavelength range of 4 microns to at least 12 microns. The applications for these devices include infrared countermeasures for protecting aircraft and standoff detection for chemical and biological defense. These crystals must be capable of efficiently converting average powers of tens of watts. Therefore, they must have the following properties: large nonlinear optical coefficients, wide transparency and phase-match ranges, low optical absorption for both linear and nonlinear components, low optical scattering, good thermal conductivity, homogeneous composition and optical properties,high laser damage threshold, small change in index of refraction for a change in temperature, chemical and mechanical stability, and suitable properties to enable a high quality surface finish and thin-film coatings. Another important property is crystal growth feasibility for crystals of sufficient size, quality, quantity, and reasonable cost. Material candidates that are proposed under this solicitation must have been previously investigated such that the Air Force can be reasonably certain of the candidate's potential for meeting the program requirements. The successful offeror must demonstrate a clear understanding of the materials problems and propose an approach demonstrated by the offeror to be feasible for advanced development by the offeror's prior research or exploratory development. Possible candidates include, but are not limited to, cadmium germanium arsenide, gallium selenide, and silver gallium indium selenide. The contractor shall conduct research and develop processes that increase the NLO crystals' size, improve the optical quality of the crystals' bulk and surfaces, and better the reliability of the materials' growth and processing techniques. Materials progress shall be determined by the materials' operation in wavelength conversion. Performance goals for a second harmonic generator (SHG) pumped by CO2 laser wavelengths, principally those at 9.2 microns and/or 9.6 microns, shall be an average output power of eight watts (8W) and an overall quantum conversion efficiency of at least 20%. Performance goals for an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with output in the spectral region of 8 to 12 microns shall be an average output power of five watts (5W), an output energy per pulse of at least ten millijoules (10mJ) at low repetition rates, and an overall quantum conversion efficiency of at least 40%. The quantum conversion efficiency is defined as the average number of signal photons which are emerging from the SHG/OPO divided by the average number of pump photons which are impinging upon the SHG/OPO. Interested offerors may view and/or download the full Program Research and Development Announcement (PRDA) solicitation by accessing the AFRL Wright Research Site Contracting home page at "http://www.wrs.afrl.af.mil/contract/." Direct questions to the Contracting point of contact identified in the announcement, and direct any technical questions to the Technical Point identified in the announcement. Potential offerors are notified that, effective 1 June 98, in order to be eligible to receive any DoD award, you must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Database. On-line registration instructions can be accessed from the Wright Research Site Contracting Office home page at http://www.wrs.afrl.af.mil/contract/ or the Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA) CCR home page at http://ccr.edi.disa.mil Posted 05/06/99 (D-SN328419). (0126)

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