Novel Ultraviolet Laser Source for Ozone Differential Absorption Lidar

280-300 nm spectral region is part of ozone absorption spectrum, and lasers operating in this region are used for lidar measurements. The pulsed UV laser system in that region is used by NASA for the Langley mobile ozone lidar (LMOL). This system output is a train of alternating pulses at two distinct wavelengths from 285-300 nm spectral range. The laser active medium is a Ce:LiCAF crystal pumped by a quadrupled radiation from a Q-switched Nd:YLF laser. Such a laser scheme is complex and has low efficiency: with 0.2 W of UV output power the system consumes 2 kW, so overall wall-plug efficiency is 0.01%. TIPD proposes to develop a simple, compact, robust, and efficient laser source based on GaN diodes and Tb-doped gain materials to satisfy NASAs requirements. In this phase II program, TIPD will deliver Tb-based 291/294nm prototype to NASA and demonstrate 302/304nm laser source for the second DIAL wavelength. 280-300 nm spectral region is part of ozone absorption spectrum, and lasers operating in this region are used for lidar measurements. The pulsed UV laser system in that region is used by NASA for the Langley mobile ozone lidar (LMOL). This system output is a train of alternating pulses at two distinct wavelengths from 285-300 nm spectral range. The laser active medium is a Ce:LiCAF crystal pumped by a quadrupled radiation from a Q-switched Nd:YLF laser. Such a laser scheme is complex and has low efficiency: with 0.2 W of UV output power the system consumes 2 kW, so overall wall-plug efficiency is 0.01%. TIPD proposes to develop a simple, compact, robust, and efficient laser source based on GaN diodes and Tb-doped gain materials to satisfy NASA’s requirements. In this phase II program, TIPD will deliver Tb-based 291/294nm prototype to NASA and demonstrate 302/304nm laser source for the second DIAL wavelength. The overall program objective is to design, develop, and deliver to NASA a compact and robust UV laser source with 291/294nm emission and to demonstrate a 302/304nm laser suitable for ozone DIAL applications.  In Phase II TIPD will design and build 582/587nm orange Tb:YLF laser prototype and optimize SHG; package 291/294nm turn-key UV laser based on Tb:YLF laser; investigate Pr- and Sm- doped laser materials for laser operation near 600nm; demonstrate laser operation near 600nm with Pr- or Sm-doped material; demonstrate UV generation near 300nm. The deliverables will be a prototype of 291/294nm laser, demonstration of 302/304nm laser, and final report.

Space exploration applications include follow on applications to NASA’s Lidar Atmosphere Sensing Experiment (LASE) program, ablation and spectroscopic tools for the New Frontiers mission to the Jovian moons, and enhanced capabilities for the SHERLOC instrument package.  The UV-B laser could be used in the search of life in the extra-terrestrial by detecting organic/inorganic molecules. Commercial applications including advanced R&D and industrial manufacturing such as in the microfabrication of transparent materials such as GaN wafers, massless lithography for circuit boards and electronics. UV-B light offers improved sensitivity over visible lasers atomic and molecular spectroscopy and chemical dynamics.

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