@inproceedings{764913de1976401fbfd218cd5a8ae70a,
title = "Microcontroller-based pulse coding of quantum cascade lasers for infrared countermeasures and communication",
abstract = "Precise control of Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) modulation is essential for both directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) systems and covert free-space optical communication. We present a compact, microcontrollerdriven modulation unit that enables real-time adjustment of frequency, duty cycle, phase, and waveform in a 4.56 μm QCL. Experiments with a cooled InSb focal plane array (FPA) reveal two distinct dazzling regimes: (i) long integration times dominated by optical saturation of the illuminated spot, and (ii) short integration times where global horizontal bands emerge from rail loading and bias collapse in the Direct Injection (DI) readout circuit. The number of bands scales predictably with modulation-to-frame-rate ratio (N ≈ fm/ff), and their contrast depends on integration time. These controllable ROIC-induced artifacts can be exploited to disrupt imaging seekers or to encode structured communication patterns.",
keywords = "directed infrared countermeasures, laser dazzling, optical communication, pulse modulation, Quantum Cascade Laser, ROIC crosstalk",
author = "Lewis, \{Gareth D.\} and Tomas Oostvogels and Toon Ivens and Marijke Vandewal",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.; 3rd High-Power Lasers and Technologies for Optical Countermeasures ; Conference date: 17-09-2025 Through 17-09-2025",
year = "2025",
month = oct,
day = "29",
doi = "10.1117/12.3069333",
language = "English",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
publisher = "Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers",
editor = "Marc Eichhorn and Lewis, \{Gareth D.\}",
booktitle = "High-Power Lasers and Technologies for Optical Countermeasures III",
}