Very high-efficiency frequency-tripled Nd:YAG MOPA for spaceborne lidar

Luttmann, J.; Nicklaus, Kolja; Morasch, Valentin; Fu, Shaojun; Höfer, M.; Traub, Martin; Hoffmann, Hans-Dieter; Treichel, R.; Wührer, Christian; Zeller, P.

doi:10.1117/12.763640

Cited by 16 publications

(16 citation statements)

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“…The INNOSlab-based ESA pre-development model ATLAS was used as the pump laser at 1064 nm [5]. This Nd:YAG laser was Q-switched and the pulse duration was 41.6 ns.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility and performance study for a space-borne 1645nm OPO for French-German satellite mission MERLIN

et al. 2014

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We present a theoretical and experimental analysis of a pulsed 1645 nm optical parametric oscillator (OPO) conducted to prove the feasibility of such a device for a spaceborne laser transmitter in an integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) lidar system. The investigation is part of the French-German satellite mission MERLIN (Methane Remote Sensing Lidar Mission). As an effective greenhouse gas, methane plays an important role for the global climate.The architecture of the OPO is based on a conceptual design developed by DLR, consisting of two KTA crystals in a four-mirror-cavity. One of the cavity mirrors is piezo-driven to provide single frequency operation of the OPO. Using numerical simulations, we studied the performance and alignment tolerances of such a setup with KTP and KTA and investigated means to optimize the optical design by increasing the efficiency and decreasing the fluence on the optical components. For the experimental testing of the OPO, we used the INNOSlab-based ESA pre-development model ATLAS as pump laser at 1064 nm. At a pulse frequency of 25 Hz this MOPA delivers a pump energy up to 45 mJ with a beam quality factor of about M² = 1.3. With KTP as nonlinear crystal the OPO obtained 9.2 mJ pulse energy at 1645 nm from 31.5 mJ of the pump and a pump pulse duration of 42 ns. This corresponds to an optical/optical efficiency of 29%. After the pump pulse was reduced to 24 ns a similar OPO performance could be obtained by adapting the pump beam radius.

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“…The INNOSlab-based ESA pre-development model ATLAS was used as the pump laser at 1064 nm [5]. This Nd:YAG laser was Q-switched and the pulse duration was 41.6 ns.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feasibility and performance study for a space-borne 1645nm OPO for French-German satellite mission MERLIN

et al. 2014

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“…The development of these lasers started with a laboratory model of the ATLID laser source for the spaceborne atmosphere backscatter lidar instrument named ATLAS [1]. Based on this setup, three tailored pump-laser sources were developed for the airborne LIDAR lidar system A2D2G and CHARM-F [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key optical components for spaceborne lasers

et al. 2016

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Spaceborne lidar (light detection and ranging) systems have a large potential to become powerful instruments in the field of atmospheric research. Obviously, they have to be in operation for about three years without any maintenance like readjusting. Furthermore, they have to withstand strong temperature cycles typically in the range of -30 to +50 °C as well as mechanical shocks and vibrations, especially during launch. Additionally, the avoidance of any organic material inside the laser box is required, particularly in UV lasers. For atmospheric research pulses of about several 10 mJ at repetition rates of several 10 Hz are required in many cases. Those parameters are typically addressed by DPSSL that comprise components like: laser crystals, nonlinear crystals in pockels cells, faraday isolators and frequency converters, passive fibers, diode lasers and of course a lot of mirrors and lenses. In particular, some components have strong requirements regarding their tilt stability that is often in the 10 μrad range. In most of the cases components and packages that are used for industrial lasers do not fulfil all those requirements. Thus, the packaging of all these key components has been developed to meet those specifications only making use of metal and ceramics beside the optical component itself. All joints between the optical component and the laser baseplate are soldered or screwed. No clamps or adhesives are used. Most of the critical properties like tilting after temperature cycling have been proven in several tests. Currently, these components are used to build up first prototypes for spaceborne systems

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“…High-power lasers are important tools in various fields, − and among them, the high-power untrafast lasers feature high peak power and ultrafast pulses, besides high-average output power, and are the fundamental light sources for laser processing technology, the generation of extreme conditions for laser plasma physics, laboratory astrophysics, and inertial confinement fusion, − and even military weapons. Gain media are the crucial components in the lasers, whose properties determine the laser performance, e.g., the fluorescence spectra corresponding to the achievable pulse width, while their thermal properties affect the achievable output power.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Broadening of the Fluorescence Spectra of Sesquioxide Crystals for Ultrafast Lasers

Liu

Guo

et al. 2020

Crystal Growth & Design

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Sesquioxide crystals were identified as promising gain media for high-power ultrafast lasers, and the broadening of their fluorescence spectra could shorten the achievable laser pulses, corresponding to the enhancement of the peak powers. In this study, we demonstrate the broadening of the fluorescence spectra of the sesquioxides with the electron−phonon coupling effect and ligand engineering associated with the advantages of the Lu 2 O 3 host in the phonon energy and insensitivity to doping concentrations. The Yb:Lu x Y 2−x O 3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 2) sesquioxide crystals were grown and characterized. The introduction of Y 3+ ions broadens the fluorescence spectra by approximately two times those of Yb:Lu 2 O 3 , which could be attributed to the strong electron−phonon coupling effect and octahedral distortion. This work would provide a series of novel laser materials for high-power ultrafast lasers and pave a new route for designing functional materials aimed at the enhancement of the given performance.

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Very high-efficiency frequency-tripled Nd:YAG MOPA for spaceborne lidar

Cited by 16 publications

References 0 publications

Feasibility and performance study for a space-borne 1645nm OPO for French-German satellite mission MERLIN

Feasibility and performance study for a space-borne 1645nm OPO for French-German satellite mission MERLIN

Key optical components for spaceborne lasers

Broadening of the Fluorescence Spectra of Sesquioxide Crystals for Ultrafast Lasers

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