September 30, 2016 IRflex has been awarded a Phase II STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) Project to continue chalcogenide glass Mid-IR optic development for QCL (Quantum cascade lasers).
By the end of Phase I, IRflex and its subcontractor Ohio State University successfully developed the design and the molding fabrication technology for mid-IR micro-lens made of chalcogenide glass to collimate the fast-axis angle of QCL. The chalcogenide glass was selected and produced for the development of the micro lens because of optical, mechanical and cost considerations. As mid-IR fiber and device manufacturer, IRflex is in the unique position to design and produce the chalcogenide glass rods used for the micro lens. The produced prototype micro-lenses using chalcogenide glasses were made with excellent result and delivered to the Air Force for testing.
IRflex is looking forward to use and further progress the Phase I demonstration of the innovative molded cylindrical chalcogenide micro-lens to continue the Phase II effort. The proposed development of chalcogenide micro-lenses will initially focus on covering the need of the fast axis collimation of single QCL sources. However the chalcogenide cylindrical micro-lens will also be extended to collimate QCL arrays. Additionally, industrial and medical applications with laser sources working in the MWIR will find benefits in the development of new chalcogenide micro-lenses.
