Overview of space qualified solid state lasers development at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Yu, Anthony W.; Li, Steve X.; Shaw, George; Seas, Antonios; Stephen, Mark; Troupaki, Elisavet; Vasilyev, Aleksey; Ramos-Izquierdo, Luis; Lukemier, Alan; Mamakos, William; Melak, Anthony; Guzek, Jeff; Rosanova, Alberto

doi:10.1117/12.814954

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…n the past 20+ years, we have successfully developed and flown lidars [1,2,3] for mapping Mars [4,5,6,7], Earth [8,9], Mercury [10] and the Moon [11] based on diode-pump solid state laser (DPSSL) technology [12,13,14,15,16]. More recently, two Earth orbiting laser-based missions were launched to continue Earth observing science applications based on DPSSL technology [17,18,19,20,21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Orbiting and In-Situ Lidars for Earth and Planetary Applications

Troupaki

et al. 2021

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Appl. Earth Observations Remote Sensing

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At NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), we have been developing spaceborne lidar instruments for space sciences. We have successfully flown several missions in the past based on mature diode pumped solid-state laser transmitters. In recent years we have been developing advanced laser technologies for applications such as laser spectroscopy, laser communications, and interferometry. In this paper, we will discuss recent experimental progress on these systems and instrument prototypes for ongoing development efforts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Orbiting and In-Situ Lidars for Earth and Planetary Applications

Troupaki

et al. 2021

IEEE J. Sel. Top. Appl. Earth Observations Remote Sensing

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“…Traditionally NASA has been interested in bulk, diode pumped solid-state lasers (DPSSL) to generate mJ-class laser pulses for scientific measurements. [8] These types of laser system designs have space heritage, can be easily scaled for specific use and can be ruggedized for space deployment. At the same time as we develop DPSSL for space, we are also investing in fiber laser and amplifier technologies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fiber lasers and amplifiers for space-based science and exploration

Krainak

Stephen

et al. 2012

SPIE Proceedings

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We present current and near-term uses of high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers for NASA science and spacecraft applications. Fiber lasers and amplifiers offer numerous advantages for the deployment of instruments on exploration and science remote sensing satellites. Ground-based and airborne systems provide an evolutionary path to space and a means for calibration and verification of space-borne systems. NASA fiber-laser-based instruments include laser sounders and lidars for measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide, oxygen, water vapor and methane and a pulsed or pseudo-noise (PN) code laser ranging system in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength band. The associated fiber transmitters include high-power erbium, ytterbium, and neodymium systems and a fiber laser pumped optical parametric oscillator. We discuss recent experimental progress on these systems and instrument prototypes for ongoing development efforts.x low susceptibility to optical misalignment and contamination (fusion splices); x strong leverage from the laser and telecommunications industries;x high-reliability pump laser diodes [leveraged from telecommunications]; anthony.w.yu@nasa.gov; phone 1(

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“…The polarization densities P ± s describing the gain and carrier-induced refractive index are given by [109], 24) where again r = t − t and the spontaneous emission is accounted by including a Gaussian white noise ξ ± s (z, t). The convolution kernel, 25) describes the optical response of the material in time domain under the intraband quasiequilibrium approximation, which is valid in times scales of 1 ps or longer.…”

Section: Dfb Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is a well-known fact that the Power Spectral Density (PSD) of a single frequency laser can be approximated by a Lorentzian function [44,45], 25) with ∆ν being the so-called linewidth defined as the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the PSD and f 0 being the average frequency of the emission.…”

Section: Emission Linewidthmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Emission characteristics of 1.5 um monolithically integrated master oscillator power amplifiers

Suárez¹,

Fernánda²

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The present work is a study of the emission characteristics of monolithic semiconductor Master Oscillator Power Amplifiers (MOPAs) relevant for their use in applications requiring simultaneously high brightness and high spectral purity semiconductor laser sources. Two types of laser devices with wavelengths ranging between 1540 nm and 1580 nm have been studied: Commercial two-section MOPAs and three-section MOPAs specially designed for their use as optical sources for Differential Absorption LIDAR. The spectral analysis of the behavior of the two-section MOPAs revealed the occurrence of undesired spectral instabilities in large ranges of driving conditions precluding their use in applications requiring stable and narrow linewidth emission. A detailed experimental analysis of the stable and unstable emission regimens has been complemented with a theoretical analysis using a Travelling Wave model. From both approaches the instabilities have been attributed to dynamic effects induced by the optical feed-back allowed by the unavoidable residual reflectivity of the front facet and mediated by self-and cross-heating effects. The three-section MOPAs have been demonstrated to be free of spectral instabilities in a large range of driving conditions. The operation of these devices under the modulation conditions required for the intended application has been demonstrated. Their emission characteristics under modulation have been analyzed paying special attention to the modulation induced spectral broadening. Evidence of a frequency modulation contribution to the broadening has been shown. The frequency modulation induced by the modulation amplitude has been attributed to the refractive index changes induced by the carrier density modulation, induced in turn by the modulating current.The work is structured in 6 chapters. In the introductory Chapter 1 the work is motivated and framed in the research line of the group. The potential of MOPAs for high brightness applications is illustrated in the case of three applications: free space optical communications, wind Lidar and Lidar for remote sensing of atmospheric gases. In Chapter 2 the main ingredients on laser diodes necessary for the proper understanding of the rest of the work are briefly summarized. The chapter includes a brief description of two concepts for increasing the brightness of semiconductor sources: tapered lasers and monolithically integrated MOPAs. A review of the state of the art in integrated semiconductor MOPAs is also included.The details of the two-section straight MOPAs and three-section bent MOPAs investigated in this work as well as a description of the experimental techniques used for their characterization are provided in Chapter 3. Specific relevance is given to the description of those set-ups and experimental techniques that were implemented or developed as a part of this work, such as the set-up for driving unmounted multi-section lasers and systematically recording the maps of the optical and Radio-Frequency (RF) spectra, the implementa...

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Overview of space qualified solid state lasers development at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

Orbiting and In-Situ Lidars for Earth and Planetary Applications

Orbiting and In-Situ Lidars for Earth and Planetary Applications

Fiber lasers and amplifiers for space-based science and exploration

Emission characteristics of 1.5 um monolithically integrated master oscillator power amplifiers

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