Widely Tunable Fast Semiconductor Laser Seed Source at 1030nm for LIDAR Remote Sensing

Goddard Space Flight center is developing a novel LIDAR instrument which will be capable of tracking both ground vegetation as well as ice and snow simultaneously, with high resolution. In this program, we will develop a key component to be used in the LIDAR instrument, a low SWaP tunable laser seed source operating in the 1030nm wavelength range. This laser will be based on Freedom Photonics swept laser platform, which is commercially available on other wavelengths. The last decadal survey conducted by the National Research Council (NRC) has recommended development and deployment of improved LIDAR remote sensing instruments, which will be capable of tracking both ground vegetation as well as ice and snow simultaneously. Additionally, higher scan resolution, achieved with more spot beams is required. Goddard Space Flight center is developing a novel LIDAR instrument to meet these need, using a laser source, which will generate a large number of ground tracks, and scan them at high speed, using a push-broom approach In this program, we will develop a fast tunable low C-SWAP rad-hard laser source, operating in the desired wavelength range of 1030nm +-15nm, which is a critical component for this Goddard's LIDAR instrument  implementation Key technical objectives of the program are: design optimized epitaxial structure for tunable laser implementation design and fabricate 1030nm  tunable laser chips capable of meeting the required specification design opto/mechanical module for the new laser at the new wavelength design a control electronics system to allow programmable laser module wavelength sweeping Deliverables to NASA will include two laser modules, and one swept laser system  

This program was inspired by an existing need within NASA (GSFC) for new, more precise and powerful remote sensing instrument implementations.   Another key application area that we will pursue with a derivative product is the area of ophthalmic optical coherence tomography. The entire OCT market is expected to be valued at $1.8 billion by 2024. An inexpensive, chip-scale solution for a laser source operating in the 1060nm range is highly desirable. 

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