Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study radiation Hardening (PHLASH)
ID: HR0011SB20254-13Type: Phase II
Overview

Topic

Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study radiation Hardening (PHLASH)

Agency

Agency: DODBranch: DARPA

Program

Type: SBIRPhase: Phase II

Topic Link

https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/

Additional Information

https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/
Timeline
    Description

    The Department of Defense, through DARPA, is seeking proposals for the Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study Radiation Hardening (PHLASH) program, which aims to develop a compact, high-energy electron accelerator system for radiation testing of microelectronics intended for space applications. The primary objective is to demonstrate a prototype scalable laser driver capable of generating 50-MeV electron beam energies at a pulse repetition rate exceeding 100 Hz, with a design that allows for future scalability to 100 GeV at 1 kHz, all within a compact footprint of less than 250 m³. This initiative is critical for enhancing the reliability and efficiency of radiation testing mechanisms, which are essential for the deployment of advanced microelectronics in various defense and commercial space systems. Proposals are due by December 10, 2025, with the solicitation currently in the pre-release phase, and interested parties can find more information at the official DARPA SBIR website.

    Files
    Title
    Posted
    1762382892267.pdf
    The HR0011SB20254-13 PHLASH (Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study radiation Hardening) program seeks to develop a compact, scalable laser driver for electron beam generation to revolutionize radiation testing for microelectronic systems in space. Current heavy-ion accelerator facilities are large and cannot meet demand, prompting the need for smaller, more efficient solutions. This program focuses on Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) to achieve high electron beam energies within a 250 m3 footprint. The objective is to demonstrate a prototype laser driver capable of generating 50-MeV electron beam energies at a pulse repetition rate greater than 100Hz, with a design scalable to 100 GeV at 1 kHz. This is a Direct to Phase II (DP2) solicitation, requiring proposers to have already achieved preliminary designs and feasibility data. Phase II will focus on developing the prototype, addressing scaling challenges, and conducting a 24-month program with fixed milestones leading to a demonstration of the scalable laser plasma accelerator and a detailed design for 100 GeV at 1 kHz. The technology is restricted under ITAR, and offers potential dual-use applications for both DoD and commercial space-based microelectronics due to the increasing demand for reliable radiation testing.
    1762387305555.pdf
    The Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study Radiation Hardening (PHLASH) program aims to develop compact, high-energy electron accelerators for radiation testing of microelectronic systems in space. Current testing facilities are large and cannot meet demand. This solicitation focuses on advancing Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) technology to create a scalable laser driver capable of generating 50-MeV electron beams at >100Hz, with a design scalable to 100 GeV at 1 kHz within a 250 m3 footprint. The program seeks Direct to Phase II (DP2) proposals, requiring demonstrated preliminary designs and feasibility data. Phase II will focus on developing a prototype laser driver, addressing scaling physics, and ensuring compatibility with objective system size and repetition rates. The project includes fixed milestones over 24 months, culminating in a prototype demonstration and a design for a scaled-up system. This technology has dual-use applications for both DoD and commercial space-based microelectronics, ensuring reliability and rapid deployment of advanced systems.
    1762560124800.pdf
    The Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study Radiation Hardening (PHLASH) program seeks to develop a compact (250 m3) 100-GeV laser-driven electron accelerator for radiation testing of microelectronic systems in space environments. Current heavy-ion accelerators are large and cannot meet demand, while existing electron accelerators are also kilometer-scale. This solicitation aims to advance Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) technology, which offers significantly shorter acceleration distances. The objective is to demonstrate a prototype scalable laser driver capable of generating 50-MeV electron beams at >100 Hz, with a design plan to scale to 100 GeV at 1 kHz. This is a Direct to Phase II (DP2) solicitation, requiring proposers to provide data demonstrating preliminary designs and feasibility of compact multi-GeV LPA systems. Phase II focuses on developing the laser driver and associated components, addressing scaling challenges related to optics, gas targets, and beam optimization. The program outlines specific milestones over 24 months, culminating in a prototype demonstration and a scalability plan. The technology has dual-use applications in both DoD and commercial space-based microelectronics, offering more efficient and reliable radiation testing mechanisms.
    1762819319024.pdf
    The HR0011SB20254-13 PHLASH project seeks to develop compact, high-power laser accelerators for radiation hardening studies of microelectronic systems in space environments. Current testing methods using large heavy-ion accelerators are insufficient to meet demand. This initiative aims to design a prototype scalable laser driver for electron beam generation, targeting a 100-GeV system within a 250 m3 footprint. The project focuses on Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) to achieve high electron beam energies in a significantly smaller footprint than traditional accelerators. The solicitation specifically seeks Direct to Phase II (DP2) proposals, requiring demonstrated preliminary designs and feasibility data for compact multi-GeV LPA systems. Phase II involves developing a prototype laser driver capable of 50-MeV electron beam energies at >100Hz, with a clear scaling path to 100 GeV at 1 kHz, while adhering to the compact size requirement. This technology has significant dual-use applications for both DoD and commercial space-based microelectronics, enhancing reliability and accelerating component availability.
    1762905704020.pdf
    The HR0011SB20254-13 PHLASH program seeks to develop pulsed high-power laser accelerators for radiation hardening studies, focusing on demonstrating a scalable laser driver for electron beam generation and designing a compact 100-GeV system. This technology aims to address the limitations of current heavy-ion accelerator facilities for radiation testing of microelectronic systems in space. The objective is to achieve high-energy electron beams in a significantly smaller footprint (under 250 m3) compared to traditional accelerators, leveraging laser wakefield acceleration. The program solicits Direct to Phase II (DP2) proposals, requiring prior demonstration of preliminary designs for a compact 100MeV, >100Hz repetition rate LWFA system and feasibility data for a multi-GeV LPA system. Phase II focuses on developing a prototype laser driver capable of 50-MeV electron beam energies at >100Hz, with a clear path for scalability to 100 GeV and 1 kHz. The project will involve detailed design studies on scaling physics, including the impact of high energies on optics, gas target reactions, and optimal beam acceleration performance. The technology is restricted under ITAR/EAR, requiring disclosure of foreign national involvement. Successful development will enable more efficient and reliable radiation testing for space-based microelectronics, with broad applications across DoD and commercial sectors.
    1762992134156.pdf
    The HR0011SB20254-13 PHLASH (Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study radiation Hardening) program aims to develop compact, high-energy laser drivers for electron beam generation to improve radiation testing of microelectronic systems for space applications. Current testing facilities are large and cannot meet demand. This solicitation seeks to advance laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) technology to create a scalable prototype laser driver capable of generating 50-MeV electron beams at >100Hz, with a design scalable to 100 GeV at 1 kHz within a 250 m3 footprint. The program focuses on Direct to Phase II proposals, requiring prior demonstration of a preliminary design for a compact 100MeV LWFA system and feasibility data for multi-GeV LPA. Phase II emphasizes designing and building a scalable prototype, addressing challenges in scaling physics, and planning for commercialization. This technology has dual-use applications for both DoD and commercial space-based microelectronics due to the increasing need for reliable radiation testing.
    1763078529018.pdf
    The Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study Radiation Hardening (PHLASH) program seeks to develop a compact, high-energy electron accelerator system for radiation testing of microelectronic systems in space environments. Current testing facilities are large and cannot meet demand. The objective is to demonstrate a prototype scalable laser driver for electron beam generation, aiming for a 100-GeV system within a 250 m3 footprint. This technology, restricted under ITAR, utilizes laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) to achieve high electron beam energies in a significantly smaller space than traditional accelerators. Phase I solicits Direct to Phase II proposals, requiring preliminary designs and feasibility data for a compact 100MeV LWFA system. Phase II focuses on developing a prototype laser driver capable of 50-MeV electron beam energies at >100Hz, with a clear path for scaling to 100 GeV at 1 kHz, while addressing challenges related to focusing optics and gas target reactions within the compact size constraints. Phase III emphasizes the dual-use applications for both DoD and commercial entities, providing more efficient and reliable radiation testing for space-based microelectronics.
    1763164918389.pdf
    The HR0011SB20254-13 PHLASH (Pulsed High-power Laser Accelerators to Study Radiation Hardening) program seeks to develop a compact, high-energy electron accelerator system for radiation testing of microelectronics in space. Current testing facilities are large and cannot meet demand. The objective is to demonstrate a prototype scalable laser driver for electron beam generation and design a 100-GeV system within a 250 m³ footprint, utilizing laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) to achieve high electron energies in a compact system. This Direct to Phase II (DP2) solicitation requires proposers to show preliminary designs for a 100MeV, >100Hz LWFA system and supporting data for multi-GeV LPA feasibility. Phase II focuses on designing and building a prototype laser driver capable of 50-MeV electron beam energies at >100 Hz, with a clear path for scaling to 100 GeV at 1 kHz, addressing challenges in optics, gas targets, and beam optimization. The technology is restricted under ITAR/EAR. Successful development will enable more efficient and reliable radiation testing, with dual-use applications for both DoD and commercial space-based microelectronics.
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