Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron: 972557

Proposal Number: 14.03-0668A

Project Title: High Energy Single Frequency Solid State Laser for Atmospheric Remote Sensing at the Eyesafe 1.5 Micron Wavelength

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

Practical lidar laser transmitters for atmospheric remote measurement applications must be environmentally rugged, efficient, and capable of tuning over a specified wavelength range. Lite Cycles is developing solid state Raman eye safe laser technology for operation at 1.56 microns for applications such as rangefinders and coherent lidar wake vortex detection systems for use around airports with high traffic rates and large aircraft. System Specifications typically require that the output beam quality be nearly diffraction-limited (less than or equal to 2 TDL), with large pulse energies (less than or equal to 500 mJ/pulse) at high repetition rates (less than or equal to 10 Hz), and with a high overall wall-plug efficiency (greater than 6%). Some applications require these sources to be capable of operating in a coherent mode (i.e., injection-locked to a local oscillator). This transmitter has a diffraction-limited output beam and is ideally suited for use in remote sensing applications. We propose a 0.5 J/pulse 10 Hz coherent transmitter that is based on a master oscillator/Raman amplifier scheme that uses existing solid state Raman converter materials.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

Remote sensing of atmospheric aerosols and clouds, both for military and commercial purposes, are of interest. Systems for detection of chemical and biological aerosols to give early warning of the existence, location, size, and possibly identification of potentially dangerous substances in the atmosphere are viable applications for this technology. Other commercial applications include eye safe ranging and velocity measurement lidar, wind and wind shear measurement lidar, and eye safe night vision systems.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

James T. Murray

Lite Cycles, Inc.

2010 N. Forbes Blvd., Suite 100

Tucson , AZ 85745

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

William L. Austin

Lite Cycles, Inc.

2010 N. Forbes Blvd., Suite 100

Tucson , AZ 85745