Aculight Corp. of Bothell, Wash., will investigate new semiconductor and fiber laser technologies under an 18-month, $2.3 million contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. The company's research will concentrate on enhancing the optical characteristics of fiber and semiconductor lasers to make them more suitable for Air Force applications.Aculight will also study new optical methods and construct prototype devices. The technology developed under the contract may lead to nondefense-related applications such as materials processing.