Progress in diode-pumped alexandrite lasers as a new resource for future space lidar missions

Abstract

Satellite-based remote sensing using laser-based lidar techniques provides a powerful tool for global 3-D mapping of atmospheric species (e.g. CO 2 , ozone, clouds, aerosols), physical attributes of the atmosphere (e.g. temperature, wind speed), and spectral indicators of Earth features (e.g. vegetation, water). Such information provides a valuable source for weather prediction, understanding of climate change, atmospheric science and health of the Earth ecosystem. Similarly, laser-based altimetry can provide high precision ground topography mapping and more complex 3-D mapping (e.g. canopy height profiling). The lidar technique requires use of cutting-edge laser technologies and engineered designs that are capable of enduring the space environment over the mission lifetime. The laser must operate with suitably high electrical-to-optical efficiency and risk reduction strategy adopted to mitigate against laser failure or excessive operational degradation of laser performance.

Diode-pumped Alexandrite laser instrument for next generation satellite-based Earth observation

“…The flashlamp-pumped Alexandrite ring lasers operating in Q-switched single-longitudinal mode (SLM) operation are commonly used as beam sources in resonance potassium and iron resonance lidar systems [6][7][8][9].However the usage of flashlamps as pump source makes them unsuitable for spaceborne operation, due to the poor efficiency and limited lifetime. One hopeful approach to overcome these drawbacks is by replacing the flashlamps with diode lasers [14,15]. Recently, new basic investigations in the field of diode-pumped Alexandrite lasers have been conducted with focus on altimetry lidar and vegetation monitoring (red-edge) [16] and resonance lidar [17].…”

Diode-pumped Alexandrite laser for next generation satellite-based earth observation lidar

“…However, the usage of flashlamps as pump source makes them unsuitable for spaceborne operation, due to the poor efficiency and limited lifetime. One hopeful approach to overcome these drawbacks is by replacing the flashlamps with diode lasers [14,15]. Recently, new basic investigations in the field of diode-pumped Alexandrite lasers have been conducted with focus on altimetry lidar and vegetation monitoring (red edge) [16] and resonance lidar [17][18][19][20][21].…”

Diode-pumped Alexandrite laser with passive SESAM Q-switching and wavelength tunability

“…Generation of high power ultrashort optical pulses, frequency conversion, optical coherence tomography, nonlinear microscopy and remote sensing applications are some of the examples that these type of laser sources potentially offer as significant benefits [1][2][3][4]. Furthermore, for 3-D mapping of (i) spectral indicators of Earth features and high precision ground topography, (ii) atmospheric species and physical attributes, these laser sources provide a powerful tool in air-borne and space-borne remote sensing in laser-based lidar and altimetry such as resonant backscatter lidar and ground vegetation biomass/bio-health detection applications [1,[5][6][7][8]. On the other hand, cutting-edge laser technologies with airborne and space-borne qualification are needed for these remote sensing applications where strict reqirements, especially for space-borne applications, severely narrows the class of lasers that can be utilized in the space environment.…”