New Lidar Laser Configuration for Earth Science Measurements

Completed TRL 6 (started at 4, targeting 6)

Description

In this STTR Phase 1 program, Fibertek successfully developed and demonstrated a breadboard version of a pulsed fiber laser capable of high-spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) measurements. This was installed in the Lidar Lab. at the Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore county (UMBC). Lidar integration, calibration and validation was successfully performed, leading to the demonstration of direct backscatter measurements up to 10km atmospheric height, and HSRL measurement of the atmospheric boundary layer aerosol. Such measurements compared very well to the co-located lidar measurements conducted via the ELF and MPLNET lidar systems. For the STTR Phase 2 program, Fibertek and UMBC propose to mature this technology platform, to develop, test, deliver and demonstrate a completed standalone HSRL lidar system capable continuos lidar measurement. The HSRL lidar transmitter sub-system can be also used for airborne HSRL missions, and the design is both power-scalable and compatible with a qualification roadmap, for future space-based HSRL missions.

Benefits

(1) Ground-based High-Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) for atmospheric aerosol mapping (2) Airborne/UAS and potentially space-based aerosol mapping (3) Enables multi-beam approach to high-resolution lidar mapping (4) Direct-detection lidar transmitter applications, enabled by the arbitrary optical waveform capability of proposed fiber-lidar transmitter

(1) Precision lidar ranging applications for target range estimation (2) Target tracking of rocket,artillery, mortar (RAM) for military applications

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Remote Sensing Instruments and Sensors > Lasers
Program	Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Tech Transfer (SBIR/STTR)
Lead organization	Fibertek, Inc., Herndon, VA
Start date	2012-06-11
End date	2014-12-10

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

Ellsworth J Welton — ellsworth.j.welton@nasa.gov
Youming Chen

How to get involved

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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