Diode-pumped alexandrite laser instrument for next generation satellite-based earth observation

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Abstract

In this work the first diode-pumped Alexandrite ring laser in Q-switched single-longitudinal mode (SLM) operation is presented. A carefully designed and complex ring resonator with several functional components is combined with an innovative pumping scheme with high-power red laser diodes. The spectral and energetic suitability of a first laser was demonstrated in hundreds of operating hours and, with a novel mobile lidar system, by the first measurements in the atmosphere by means of a diode-pumped Alexandrite laser, yielding data from the stratosphere to the mesosphere. An improved laser yields a pulse energy of 1.7 mJ at a repetition rate of 500 Hz with an excellent beam quality of M2 < 1.1. By seeding the resonator with a narrow-band diode laser, SLM operation with a linewidth below 4 MHz is achieved. The electro-optical efficiency of 2 % is the highest archived for all Alexandrite lasers in SLM operation and reasonable for space-operation. The performance analysis as well as benchmarking with the space-qualified mounting technology point out the TRL and the remaining effort of development of the technology.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Space Optics, ICSO 2018
EditorsZoran Sodnik, Nikos Karafolas, Bruno Cugny
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510630772
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes
EventInternational Conference on Space Optics, ICSO 2018 - Chania, Greece
Duration: 9 Oct 201812 Oct 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11180
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference on Space Optics, ICSO 2018
Country/TerritoryGreece
CityChania
Period9/10/1812/10/18

Keywords

  • Alexandrite laser
  • Diode-pumped laser
  • Lidar
  • Q-switched laser
  • Ring laser
  • Single-longitudinal mode laser
  • Spaceborne laser
  • Tunable laser

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