DARPA-SN-26-124.pdf

DARPA-SN-26-124

Special Notice Request for Information:

Resilient Ultra Short Pulsed Laser Sources

DARPA-SN-26-124

September 8, 2026

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Multi X Office 675 North Randolph Street Arlington, VA 22203-2114

Request for Information (RFI) Special Notice DARPA-SN-26-124

Resilient Ultra Short Pulsed Laser Sources Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Multi X Office (MXO)

OVERVIEW:

Posting Date: September 8, 2026 Responses Due: November 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) Technical POC: Dr. Justin Cohen, MXO Program Manager E-mail: DARPA-SN-26-124@darpa.mil

RFI DESCRIPTION:

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Multi X Office (MXO) seeks information on compact, rugged millijoule-class ultra-short pulsed lasers.

The goals of this Request for Information (RFI) include, but are not limited to:

• Identify approaches to fieldable millijoule ultra-short pulsed lasers

• Identify approaches to maintain mode-locking under environmental challenges

Responses to this RFI may be used to inform future DARPA program research thrusts, goals, and performance targets.

BACKGROUND:

Since the demonstration of high pulse energy, ultra-short pulse lasers (USPL) by Strickland and Mourou in 1988, USPLs have gained widespread use in fundamental science and manufacturing. Despite their utility, they have remained large, heavy, and fragile. At the same time, integrated photonics, fabricated using CMOS technology, has demonstrated ever more capability for mode-locking, power handling, and precision tuning. Recent research has shown chip-scale mode-locked lasers (MLL), amplifiers with nanojoule pulse energy, erbium and rare earth doped waveguides, and integrated Titanium-sapphire lasers. The aforementioned results suggest several fruitful approaches to scaling pulse energy in MLLs with high repetition rates in the tens of gigahertz, beyond the reach of fiber or free-space approaches.

While incremental improvement has brought USPLs from large user facilities to laboratory benchtops, and even to controlled manufacturing facilities, they remain large and sensitive to environmental effects like temperature, humidity, dust, shock, and vibration. The size, weight, power, and sensitivity severely limit the applications that can benefit from USPLs extreme field intensities.

To have impact across application spaces, a general purpose USPL also requires real-time tuning of relevant laser parameters such as wavelength, pulse energy, repetition rate, and pulse shape. However, the standard approach to ruggedness includes mechanically locking down precision optics, hermetically sealing sensitive components, and carefully controlling temperature. These approaches may conflict with broad parameter tuning. New innovations and system architectures, including chip-scale and fiber-based approaches, are needed to create a general purpose, broadly tunable, rugged, fieldable millijoule class USPL for dual-use applications.

mailto:DARPA-SN-26-124@darpa.mil

REQUESTED INFORMATION:

DARPA seeks innovative insights to address the questions described below. Responses are welcome from all capable sources including, but not limited to, private or public companies, individuals, universities, university-affiliated research centers, not-for-profit research institutions, and U.S. Government-sponsored labs. Responses may address any of the following areas:

1. How compact and rugged can millijoule-class ultra-short pulsed laser sources be made? Describe:

a. Envisioned ultra-short pulsed laser system with sub-picosecond, microjoule to millijoule pulses, at gigahertz to tens of kilohertz repetition rates, respectively

b. Envisioned system performance parameters and comparison to state of the art

c. USPL flow-down metrics: center wavelength, wavelength tuning range, pulse width, pulse width tuning, pulse energy, average power, repetition rate, waveform generation, operating vibration and acceleration sensitivity, operating temperature range and thermal stability; describe the limitations to these metrics and discuss opportunities to overcome them

d. Significant system architectural changes from state of the art to allow compact deployable systems and comparison to state of the art, and identification of the role (if any) of chip-scale photonics in the system

2. How can optimal laser operation be maintained in millijoule-class UPSL sources under environmental stress, with consideration to factors such as:

a. Impact of challenging environmental conditions on ultra-short pulsed mode-locked laser performance: ability to maintain mode-locking through vibration, thermal transients;

describe the limitations to these capabilities and discuss opportunities to overcome them

b. Potential solutions and methods to overcome environmental conditions, such as those described by MIL-STD-810H, for operational aircraft: component ruggedization, vibration isolation, acceleration compensation, thermal control

3. How can rugged USPLs be broadly tunable across the parameter space?

a. Approaches to, and feasibility limitations to, wavelength tuning, pulse width tuning, pulse energy tuning, repetition rate tuning, shaping the comb power distribution as a function of wavelength, in a compact and rugged form factor

b. Approaches to arbitrary waveform generation in USPLs, in a compact and rugged form factor

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:

Responses to this RFI should be submitted no later than the due date and time listed in the overview section.

Unclassified responses to this RFI should be submitted to DARPA-SN-26-124@darpa.mil. NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE SENT TO DARPA-SN-26-124@darpa.mil.

Classified responses should be coordinated with DARPA prior to submission. Respondents wishing to provide a classified response should send an e-mail to DARPA-SN-26-124@darpa.mil with the subject line mailto:DARPA-SN-26-124@darpa.mil

“Classified Coordination Requested”. Respondents should allow at least three (3) business days for processing requests. NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE SENT TO DARPA-SN-26-124@darpa.mil.

To the maximum extent possible, respondents should submit non-proprietary information. If proprietary information is submitted, it must be appropriately and specifically marked. It is the respondent’s responsibility to clearly define to the Government what is considered proprietary data. Any proprietary information should be clearly labeled as “Proprietary.” DARPA will disclose submission contents only for the purpose of review by DARPA staff, other Government agencies, or DARPA Support Contractors/SETAs.

NOTE: DARPA intends to conduct individual discussions with respondents as necessary to gain a full understanding of the technical and partnership models submitted. DARPA will contact respondents individually via e-mail.

FORMAT INSTRUCTIONS:

Responses to the RFI should be concise. DARPA will only review responses submitted as an unprotected Microsoft Word/PowerPoint document or PDF file. Each response must use 12-point font and 1-inch margins on 8.5-inch by 11-inch page size. Responses must adhere to the page limits specified below;

however, effective responses that can be provided in fewer pages are encouraged. Any submitted material in excess of these page limits will not be reviewed.

Responses should adhere to the following formatting instructions:

1. Cover page (1 page)

a. Title

b. Organization(s)

c. Respondent’s technical and administrative points of contact (names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and email addresses)

2. Technical Response (10 pages maximum) o A discussion of the capabilities and metrics proposed by the response o A discussion of the technical challenges addressed by the response o Clear delineation between simulation and experimental data, as well as between existing state of the art and projected capability o Development strategy required to meet proposed metrics o Identify current data (if any)

3. References (1 page)

a. All references to previously published work should be contained within this space.

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For details, visit https://www.darpa.mil/events/2026/spark-tank.

DARPACONNECT:

Entities who have not worked with DARPA before are encouraged to learn more about DARPAConnect, an initiative established to facilitate collaboration between DARPA and potential performers. The DARPAConnect team offers customized support, resources, and guidance on how to prepare your ideas for high-impact conversations with DARPA program managers. Please visit DARPAConnect.us to access a mailto:DARPA-SN-26-124@darpa.mil https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/fiOWC49 https://www.darpa.mil/events/2026/spark-tank https://www.darpaconnect.us/ digital hub of online resources, including a curriculum for self-paced learning, personalized support, and in-person and virtual events. In addition to the self-paced online materials, the DARPAConnect team is able to schedule one-on-one conversations to discuss your specific ideas, questions, and paths to DARPA.

You can use the contact form at DARPAConnect.us or email the DARPAConnect team directly at darpaconnect@darpa.mil to request assistance.

ADMINISTRATIVE:

This announcement contains all information required to submit a response. No additional forms, kits, or other materials are needed. All administrative and technical questions should be directed to DARPA-SN- 26-124@darpa.mil. Please refer to the Special Notice number (DARPA-SN-26-124) in all correspondence.

This RFI is issued solely for information and program planning purposes and does not constitute a formal solicitation for proposals or proposal abstracts; any so sent will be disregarded. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Submission of a response is strictly voluntary and is not required to propose to subsequent Announcements (if any) or Solicitations (if any) on this topic. DARPA will not provide reimbursement for costs incurred in responding to this RFI. Respondents are advised that DARPA is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted under this RFI.

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