This course provides the attendee with knowledge of optical phased array technology, design, and implementation. Optical phased array technology will allow revolutionary conformal apertures that steer optical systems with no moving parts. This technology will revolutionize laser communication, laser sensing, laser countermeasures, and laser weapons. In the longer term it will also revolutionize passive optical systems such as hyperspectral sensors. The course focuses on liquid crystal based approaches to implementing one dimension at a time, space fed, optical phased arrays. Methods of extending the size of optical phased array devices through combining sub-apertures are also discussed, as well as the potential for combining optical phased arrays with RF phased arrays. Course notes will be provided.

This course is an introduction to Optical Phased Arrays and their applications in active electro-optical systems, including high energy laser systems, long range laser imaging and laser communications. The course will develop an understanding of high resolution imaging using multiple sub-apertures, high resolution laser beam projection using multiple sub-apertures, optical phased array beam steering, phased array beam propagation, adaptive optics as applied to phased arrays, and modeling of phased array systems. Phased array component technologies to be covered will include fiber laser sources, high and low bandwidth imaging cameras, beam transport in fibers, non-mechanical beam steering elements, and other system elements. Some systems issues discussed will include system efficiencies, optical isolation for transmitters and imagers, acquisition, tracking and pointing (ATP), phased array fire control, and system weight and volume estimation.