BURLINGTON, Mass., March 27 -- SensArray Infrared Corp., a manufacturer of imaging products, announced yesterday it has been awarded a $750,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract for a cost-effective growth process for a new low-phonon-energy, room temperature host material for mid-infrared (IR) lasers. SensArray said the new process will reduce the manufacturing and packaging costs of laser devices. David Gabbe, director, SensArray Crystal Physics Products, said the company will use the Czochralski method to grow crystals, instead of the Bridgman method. "This approach facilitates seeded growth of oriented crystals with minimal residual stress and demonstrates superior optical quality," Gabbe said. "Crystals currently grown by what is know as the Bridgman method in sealed silica ampoules are subject to contamination and stress, which degrades the optical properties." SensArray said this method will enable it to make a low-cost, portable laser device operating at room temperature, which it said has potential applications in pollution control, spectroscopy, ground vehicle protection, remote sensing, countermeasures and IR imaging. For more information, visit: sensarrayinfrared.com