Temperature tunable solar blocking etalon filter for space-based water vapor differential absorption lidar

This proposal seeks to develop a dynamically tunable solid fabry-perot etalon filter subsystem to enable a space-based water vapor DIAL mission in response to the 2017 NASA Decadal Survey (DS). The filter subsystem will be spectrally matched and able to track a tunable laser transmitter to filter solar background at multiple wavelengths. The proposed frequency agile filter system will optimize daytime performance and enable, for the first time, direct measurements of water vapor profiles using the differential absorption lidar(DIAL) technique from small satellite platforms. During the Phase 1 IRAD, we analyzed system requirements, developed a novel system design, procured long lead time custom etalons, performed thermal and mechanical analysis, and laboratory experiments to assess design suitability. In this Phase 2 proposal we will fabricate the subsystem, with emphasis on aircraft operations, provide laboratory testing and demonstration of the fabricated unit, baseline potential aircraft environment testing with the HALO airborne lidar, and provide crucial information for a follow up Phase 3, which will be to develop the spacecraft flight design with all lessons learned incorporated.

The result of this work will help to enable the first ever spaceborne measurements of water vapor by a lidar instrument.

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