PITTSBURGH, Sept. 4 -- II-VI Inc.has been awarded a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, NY, through the Office of Secretary of Defense. The contract, recently awarded to the company's VLOC subsidiary, involves the crystal growth of neodymium (Nd) activated yttrium vanadate (YVO4), the development of components, and the demonstration of diode-pumped, near-infrared laser radiation in a compact, efficient, and rugged package. The efforts will include demonstration of fully automated, high yield Nd:YVO4 crystal growth, characterization of the bulk crystals, optimization of fabrication and coating processes, and testing and environmental-hardening of the packaging for these diode-pumped devices. This effort will be a teaming arrangement between VLOC in Florida, the II-VI Incorporated Advanced Materials Development Center in Pennsylvania, the Center for Materials Research at Washington State University, and Aculight Corporation in Bothell, Washington. Funding for the base period in the amount of $3.05 million has been awarded while funding for the option periods is subject to the availability of federal funds in the outgoing years. The total funding could exceed $11 million, covering a base period of one year with two subsequent option years.