Novel Solid State Lasers for Space-Based Water Vapor DIAL

During our SBIR work, Fibertek successfully demonstrated a single frequency, frequency doubled Er:YAG dual wavelength (1645nm/822nm) laser transmitter capable of supporting methane and water vapor Lidar studies. The SBIR program developed the Er:YAG technology and was a first step in designing and packaging the Er:YAG transmitter so that it is compatible with a LIDAR airborne mission such as Nasa Langley’s HALO. This system offers improvements in the current state-of-the-art transmitters currently employed on HALO, reducing the transmitter size by a factor of >2x, with projected efficiency improvements of >2x. The increase in efficiency and decrease in size enabled by the ErYAG transmitter shows a promising path to space for a future water vapor LIDAR. The CCRPP is meant to benefit NASA through continuing this work and transitioning this technology to a tested airborne ready transmitter. The proposed CCRPP consists of 4 main phases. The first phase will focus on design modifications for increasing the reliability, efficiency, and power of the ErYAG transmitter. During the second phase material will be procured and testing will be carried out on the laser transmitter and the updated design. The third phase will evaluate the results of phase 2, implement the modifications in the final packaged system, and perform an optical characterization test. In phase four the laser transmitter will be tested through environments to TRL6. The end result of a successful CCRPP program will be a higher power, more reliable TRL6 tested laser. This work will also provide valuable data for the design of a future methane/water-vapor space LIDAR mission.

Fibertek is working closely with NASA LaRC and the Earth Sciences Technology Office (ESTO) to develop reliable, efficient laser sources meeting the requirements for advanced instruments for remote sensing of the Earth’s atmosphere on a global scale. The novel near infrared laser with frequency conversion will enable lidar systems to be based initially on research aircraft and high-altitude UAVs for global sensing of atmospheric water vapor and methane. Another possible application of this technology would be for a 1645nm eye-safe wind lidar.

Defense department applications for this transmitter are long-range lidar systems and illuminators for the military. Increasingly these systems require higher power for greater range and sensitivity and eye safety requirements dictate that these systems operate in the near infrared between 1400 nm and 1700 nm. It is also well matched to requirements of planned 3D imaging lidars and rangefinders.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 6) — 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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