Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study radiation Hardening (PHLASH)
SBIR Opportunity Analysis
DARPA, under the DoD SBIR program, is seeking a Phase II effort to advance compact laser-plasma acceleration technology for radiation testing of space microelectronics. The work centers on designing and building a prototype laser driver that can produce 50 MeV electron beams at greater than 100 Hz, while also providing a design and work plan to scale the system to 100 GeV and 1 kHz within a compact footprint. The solution must address beam focusing to submicron spots at the device under test, the behavior of the gas target at higher energies and repetition rates, and how the system will remain compatible with a final test system under 250 m3. This is a 24-month program with fixed payable milestones, and the solicitation is in pre-release with an open date of April 15, 2026 and a close/application due date of May 13, 2026.