100s of kW Peak Power Fiber Amplifier for Next-Generation LiDAR Application

Based on our proprietary award-winning fiber laser technology, AdValue Photonics proposes an enabling fiber amplifier technology for the proposed NASA’s next-generation topographic LiDAR mapping applications. This technology can easily be extended from the near-infrared spectral region to the visible green region via nonlinear frequency doubling, benefitting future hydrographic LiDAR mapping applications. In the Phase I program, we will focus on the feasibility investigation of a high-peak-power fiber amplifier that can potentially meet all the specification requirements of NASA’s interest. In the Phase II program, we will experimentally demonstrate this enabling technology by developing a compact deliverable prototype amplifier unit at the end of the Phase II program.

The proposed high-peak-power high-energy narrow-linewidth, pulsed fiber laser/amplifier provides an enabling technology for NASA’s next-generation LiDAR systems for measurements of the atmosphere and gas contents of the Earth, Mars, the Moon, and other planetary bodies. Furthermore, our unique fiber laser technology enables an all-fiber monolithic system design, which is compact, efficient, and highly reliable, benefiting to NASA’s air-borne and space-borne applications.

This fiber laser technology can be extended into other wavelength regions including eye-safe spectral region (1.55um and 2um), and visible spectral regions (0.5um and 0.78um) by nonlinear frequency conversion. Two frequency-doubled fiber laser systems at 776nm/780nm, based on our Er-doped fiber laser developed recently at AdValue Photonics can be used for Rb dating applications.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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