Lasers, Optics & Photonics

Biography

Biography: Douglas R McCarter

Abstract

Most high energy lasers use single crystal silicon for the mirrors only, up to 460 mm diameter. McCarter has developed an all single crystal silicon telescope model that incorporates modular single crystal silicon mirrors with 39NiFe inserts for attachment, as well as single crystal silicon support structures to provide a system that is athermal. The telescope concept can scale up to meter class, as demonstrated for the SBL-IFX space based meter class laser. Single crystal silicon, a material that behaves isotropically; and McCarter processing methods are critical in providing 80-325 mm missile interceptor telescopes that will not blur, creep or jitter during thermal and/or mechanical loads. SCiSi is the only material that can handle endo- and exo-thermal missions. After two decades of prototyping and third party testing McCarter has created a TRL-6 solution to overcome single crystal silicon size and complexity restraints. These manufacturing processes are comprised of single crystal silicon; glass frit bonding and metal insert attachment. McCarter silicon mirrors are successfully fielded in ABL, THEL, MTHEL, CRAM200, INSS and others. After building EKV mirrors during MDA SBIR B044-095-1205, “define and demonstrate a beryllium substitute material for GMD applications”, McCarter was contracted by WSMR to replace their cooled molybdenum mirrors with single crystal silicon mirrors incorporating our processing technology. Molybdenum is a heritage material that, like beryllium, is in-efficient and extremely expensive. The use of McCarter’s modular approach enabled a compact HEL system without the need for any coolers. This contract for WSMR, as well as another with MZA, Albuquerque NM with modular single crystal silicon helicopter HEL mirrors raised the technical readiness level to 6. In addition to detecting and deterring hostile missiles this same technology will mitigate space trash and protect against asteroids of all sizes.