Technology Today issue 1 2008 - Raytheon

Near-term Raytheon applications of fiber
lasers have been in various versions of laser
sensors, including a state-of-the-art coherent
laser radar system. In the commercial
world, fiber lasers are becoming the laser of
choice in a number of laser processing
applications, most significantly in the marking
area where they essentially dominate all
other options.
Planar Waveguide Lasers (PWGs), are
high aspect ratio sandwich-type structures
consisting of a high-index active core surrounded
by lower index claddings. A PWG
is essentially a one-dimensional fiber in
which the thin transverse axis is guided and
the wide transverse axis is unguided. The
core, typically 5 to 200 μm thick, may be
single-mode or multimode and may be
ENGINEERING PROFILE
Figure 2. Planar waveguide gain medium showing pump insertion and output beam
James Mason
Senior Principal Fellow
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems
When Jim Mason walked in the doors of Texas
Instruments — later part of Raytheon — 42 years ago,
he knew he found a home.
Mason was given opportunities to work on challenging
projects with the most advanced technologies; to work
with brilliant and motivated people; to support the
defense of our nation; and to get a paycheck on top of
all of that. After 42 years, you can still see his excitement.
“If you are excited about working with technology,
Raytheon is a great place to work!” he declared.
For the last 10 years Mason has worked on millimeter
wave (MMW) active electronically scanned arrays
(AESA) and MMW technology at Ka-band and W-band
frequencies. As part of this effort, Mason invented and
developed the low-cost MMW AESA concept. “This
radically different and eloquently simple concept is a
solution that is obvious to everybody,” Mason said,
“once they see it.” The low-cost AESA concept reduced
the per-channel cost by 10 times. This technology has
now been applied to the multibillion dollar, multifunction
RF System program.
AESA design technology covers a broad range of technology
disciplines, including RF, digital, power, monolithic
microwave integrated circuits, software, thermal,
materials and processes. The very high packaging densities
of this equipment makes it a particularly difficult
design challenge. Everything is interrelated and interconnected.
“It reminds me of the PBS TV show called
Feature
Continued on page 12
Connections,” Mason said. “It takes a person with a
broad experience base to span this technology breadth
and provide the leadership to connect the dots.”
The most rewarding aspect of his job, Mason said, is the
challenge. “There’s a fortune cookie that says, ‘My greatest
joy in life is accomplishing what others say is impossible.’
This is the challenge that I live for,” Mason said.
“Leading a team of less experienced design engineers
and showing them how to ask the right questions,
makes it even more rewarding. You can see the excitement
of the team build and we get closer and closer to a
solution. When this magic moment occurs, the dynamics
of the team are completely transformed.”
Mason is a strong believer in visualization, and it’s one
of the primary tools he uses when he invents something
new. “It’s a powerful technique that can be applied to all
aspects of a program, as well as your life. If you can see
it you can make it happen. It takes practice and a lot of
scientific background knowledge, but if you can develop
this ability, you can change the world.” It helps,
Mason said, to spend time with children. “Not only is it
fun, but they will teach you how to think like a child.
That’s what you need to be an inventor.”
Reflecting on what aspect of his job keeps him up at
night, Mason relates a “conversation” that he might have
with his subconscious. “You know that problem that
you asked me to work on several days ago? Well I’ve got
the answer. Hope you are ready to get started, because
I can’t sleep.” He commits many of his most difficult
problems to his subconscious, and his mind, he said,
“Let’s me know when it’s ready.”
RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGY TODAY 2008 ISSUE 1 11