FASORtronics LLC
FASORtronics managing partners: Tom Kane, Paul Hillman, and Craig Denman (L-R).FASORtronics is a Limited Liability Company organized in New Mexico in May 2008. Its three managing partners are Craig Denman, Tom Kane, and Paul Hillman, all of whom are Ph.D.s with decades of experience in research and development of laser and optics technologies, technology engineering and manufacturing, and technology management.
Our team has a unique set of skills related to the design and manufacture of high power single-frequency lasers, efficient frequency converters, extremely stable and low-noise lasers, and in the automation of highly complex laser systems for robust remote operation. We are broadly skilled in applied physics, computer modeling and simulation, lasers and optics, adaptive optics, optomechanical and electrical engineering, and software design. We continue to look for new and innovative ways to apply our company's expertise to address challenging problems in the world of high-technology manufacturing, science and engineering, energy, national defense, and intelligence.
A facility-class FASOR design incorporating an all-in-one enclosure for laser optical modules, electronics, and power supplies. Total enclosure dimensions are 600x900x1200 mm.FASORtronics specializes in the design and manufacture of laser systems to create “guide stars” for astronomical telescopes incorporating adaptive optics. Its founders have expertise in making high power, single frequency, solidstate lasers and wavelength converters that form the foundation of the FASOR (Frequency Addition Source of Optical Radiation) concept, which utilizes a doubly resonant sum-frequency wavelength converter in which two high power single-frequency infrared laser beams are mixed in a nonlinear crystal to produce a single-frequency yellow output beam resonant with high altitude sodium atoms.
Two of the FASORtronics founders developed the FASOR technology for the laser guidestar adaptive optical system at the Air Force Research Lab’s Starfire Optical Range between 2001 and 2004. Two generations of laser systems built during this period produced the brightest guide stars ever and demonstrated the high efficiency and robustness of the technology to meet the specifications of all planned laser guidestar adaptive optical systems critical to the coming revolution in ground-based astronomy.
The second-generation 50-watt FASOR in operation at the USAF Starfire Optical Range.Several huge ground-based telescopes are planned for completion in the coming decade. These telescopes will create images sharper than those created by existing or planned space-based telescopes, while also collecting light from distant objects more quickly. They depend, however, on the technology of laser guidestar adaptive optics.
FASORtronics is committed to commercializing the FASOR technology for the development of next-generation laser guidestar adaptive optics. The FASOR technology is protected under a U.S. patent held by the Air Force. Two of the FASORtronics founders are co-inventors of that patent. FASORtronics has an exclusive patent license for the commercialization of the FASOR technology.