Infinite Group, Inc. announced its subsidiary, Infinite Photonics, Inc., has completed negotiations and entered into a contract for $12 million in research and development from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), using Infinite's proprietary grating coupled surface emitting laser diode technology. The work will begin immediately and be completed by the end of 2003.
"We will produce pump and source laser diodes, as well as grating coupled semiconductor optical amplifiers (GCSOA)", stated Jeff Bullington, President of Infinite Photonics. "The program will allow Infinite Photonics to develop and commercialize single mode devices specific to DARPA's goals for very high power, high repetition rates, and high beam quality. DARPA has had a long history of enabling innovative advancements in a number of industries including: microelectronics, the Internet, and photonics. DARPA is driven to advance cutting edge technology, while encouraging the economies of large-scale production through commercial applications. According to Laser Focus World magazine, the commercial photonics market applicable to diode laser technology is approximately $6 Billion per year. This program will enable Infinite Photonics to establish significant technological presence in this market by creating photonic based products for both the commercial and government applications."