The Penn State Electro-Optics Center in Freeport will award Aculight Corp. of Bothell, Wash., a subcontract for $2.6 million over a three-year period. Aculight’s efforts will focus on thermal and yield improvements as well as on industrial-scale production of semiconductor lasers for use in mid-infrared transmitters. The transmitters may be incorporated into aircraft infrared countermeasures defensive systems, where they would be used to detect, track and jam heat-seeking missiles. The Manufacturing Technology Program of the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, Va., provided the funding. Aculight will conduct the work with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate of Albuquerque, N.M., on behalf of the Naval Air Systems Command of Patuxent River, Md.