High Energy Parametric Laser Source and Frequency-Comb-Based Wavelength Reference for CO2 and Water Vapor DIAL in the 2 µm Region: Design and Pre-Development Experimentations

Abstract

We present a differential absorption lidar (DIAL) laser transmitter concept designed around a Nested Cavity Optical Parametric Oscillator (NesCOPO) based Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA). The spectral bands are located around 2051 nm for CO2 probing and 1982 nm for H216O and HD16O water vapor isotopes. This laser is aimed at being integrated into an airborne lidar, intended to demonstrate future spaceborne instrument characteristics: high-energy (several tens of mJ nanosecond pulses) and high optical frequency stability (less than a few hundreds of kHz long term drift). For integration and efficiency purposes, the proposed design is oriented toward the use of state-of-the-art high aperture periodically poled nonlinear materials. This approach is supported by numerical calculations and preliminary experimental validations, showing that it is possible to achieve energies in the 40–50 mJ range, reaching the requirement levels for spaceborne Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) measurements. We also propose a frequency referencing technique based on beat note measurement of the laser signal with a self-stabilized optical frequency comb, which is expected to enable frequency measurement precisions better than a few 100 kHz over tens of seconds integration time, and will then be used to feed the cavity locking of the NesCOPO.

Ultrafast Raman fiber laser: a review and prospect

“…For scientific researches, optical frequency comb (OFC) has driven the rapid development of optical metrology for the past two decades. The development of OFC with high energy comb line at special wavelengths would further promote the expansion of OFC applications [25,26]. For fiber communications, the development of high quality, cost-efficient ultrafast laser with special wavelength would extend applications from commonly-used band (C-band and L-band) to other developing bands, such as U-band (1625-1675 nm), which may effectively improve speed and bandwidth [68].…”

“…Thus, ultrafast Raman fiber lasers have been considered as an outstanding solution to generate ultrafast pulses with wavelength agility. Such lasers have the potential to produce high power laser pulses at special wavelength, which may expand applications in industry and biomedical field as well as for scientific research [21][22][23][24][25][26]. Besides wavelength agility, Raman fiber lasers have some other advantages, compared with rare-earth doped ones, such as lower quantum defect, higher damage threshold and free of photodarkening [27].…”

Preliminary range-resolved detection of stable water isotopologues by differential absorption lidar using a 2 µm parametric source

“…This is performed by adjusting the NesCOPO cavity length using piezoelectric transducers. The OPA stage is based on three high-aperture (5x5 mm²) PPKTP crystals [7]. With a pump energy of 70 mJ, and idler rejection between the last two crystals, it was possible to obtain output signal energies in the range of 6-9 mJ.…”

“…This DIAL experimental demonstration on water isotopologues is a first important step towards range-resolved D quantification in the vertical direction. For this purpose, future work will focus on the characterization of the DIAL errors and biases as well as on increasing the power performance of the transceiver, as outlined in [7], for higher sensitivity.…”

Non-destructive quality evaluation of periodically poled MgO:PPLN and Rb:PPKTP crystals based on parametric light generation

“…Successful implementation of quasi-phase-matching (QPM) has been achieved in ferroelectric crystals such as lithium niobate (LiNbO 3 ), lithium tantalate (LiTaO 3 ), and potassium titanyl phosphate (KTiOPO 4 ). [1][2][3][4][5][6] The most common and reliable method for obtaining PP crystals is the electric field poling technique, which involves creating a desired pattern on the crystal surface using lithography and applying a strong electric field. As a result, stable periodically poled domains (gratings) are formed, creating a medium where effective nonlinearity periodically changes sign.…”