Design of an advanced diode-pumped solid state laser for high-altitude airborne operations

Daniel E. Nieuwsma; Jinxue Wang

doi:10.1117/12.580348

11 January 2005 Design of an advanced diode-pumped solid state laser for high-altitude airborne operations

Daniel E. Nieuwsma, Jinxue Wang

Proceedings Volume 5659, Enabling Sensor and Platform Technologies for Spaceborne Remote Sensing; (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.580348
Event: Fourth International Asia-Pacific Environmental Remote Sensing Symposium 2004: Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere, Ocean, Environment, and Space, 2004, Honolulu, Hawai'i, United States

Abstract

As part of the Advanced Targeting FLIR (ATFLIR) program for the United States Navy, Raytheon has designed and developed a compact and rugged diode-pumped solid-state laser for high-altitude airborne targeting systems. This laser is based on the relatively mature Nd:YAG technology. In the laser pump head, 168 diode bars are stacked into 24 arrays, which, in turn, are packed around the laser rod to provide 4-sided optical pumping. These standard 20°C operating temperature diode bars and the laser rod are conductively cooled to fins located in the air flow circulating in the pod housing. The laser operates with very low variation in output energy or beam divergence at laser pulse rates from 8 to 20 Hertz and ambient temperatures from -54 to +71°C. The optical to optical efficiency of the pump head is better than 25%. Eye safe laser wavelengths are achieved thorough the use of an Optical Parametric Oscillator. This compact and rugged diode-pumped solid-state laser with proven performance and reliability on high altitude aircrafts can also be modified to serve as transmitters for a variety of airborne laser remote sensing applications. It also has the potential to serve as laser transmitters for spaceborne applications with some design changes and space qualifications.

Citation Download Citation

Daniel E. Nieuwsma and Jinxue Wang "Design of an advanced diode-pumped solid state laser for high-altitude airborne operations", Proc. SPIE 5659, Enabling Sensor and Platform Technologies for Spaceborne Remote Sensing, (11 January 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.580348

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