Project Title:
DIODE PUMPED Cr:LiSAF LASERS FOR OZONE AND WATER VAPOR SENSING LIDARS
94-1 08.03 9558 A
DIODE PUMPED Cr:LiSAF LASERS FOR OZONE AND WATER VAPOR SENSING
LIDARS
Abstract:
There is long term NASA need for rugged, tunable lasers for
measurement of atmospheric constituents to increase understanding
of ozone depletion, global warming, and other climate related
topics. For projected missions for aircraft or space based
measurements, more compact and efficient lidar transmitters need
to be developed in the near-IR and W. Novel diode pumped solid
state laser technology is projected to play an increasing role
in such measurements. Diode pumped tunable lasers would be ideal
for species measurements using DIAL. The proposed effort will
develop high energy, modest pulse rate, diode pumped, compact
Cr:LiSAF lasers suitable for measurements of H20 vapor in the
near IR and of 03 in the UV by Differential Absorption Lidar. The
laser developed at the end of Phase II will have a combination
of diode pumping (Q-cw), high output energy, and narrow band
power that has not been achieved simultaneously in this medium.
To test the power scaleable innovative geometry, experiments in
Phase I quantify achievable gain, losses in the material, and
extraction in a multipass, multi-bounce slab geometry. Design in
Phase I will focus on "design to cost", to provide optimum use
of diode arrays, and to consider lamp pumped amplifier module to
boost the energy for UV ozone measurement applications. The Phase
II laser will be delivered to NASA for incorporation into
existing NASA lidar systems and platforms. Being compact and
efficient, further hardening can extend the laser' s utility to
future missions, such as with remotely piloted aircraft.
The technology can be used for high peak power, ultra-fast pulse
amplification for table top TW research use, in medical
applications in place of dye lasers as well as tattoo removal
where multiple colors are needed to decompose ink embedded in the
flesh. Industrial monitoring of plant emissions of N02, S02, and
volatile organic compounds, as well as industrial use in
materials processing and semiconductor fabrication are possible.
Remote sensing for other governmental groups is important also,
such as chemical agent detection, solvent releases from nuclear
weapons facilities or illicit drug manufacture.
Key words
Aculight Corporation
40 Lake Bellevue, Suite 100
Bellevue, WA, 98005