Sodium Excitation Laser for Mesospheric Analysis

The sodium layer in the upper atmosphere provides a unique opportunity to study mesospheric and ionospheric dynamics, as its density, temperature, and altitude fluctuate due to various atmospheric and geophysical factors. These variations can be probed through remote sensing, with sodium serving as a natural tracer. Despite its significance, the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region remain poorly characterized, even though they are critical for understanding atmospheric dynamics. Pulsed lasers with high peak power have traditionally been the primary light source for probing the sodium layer via LIDAR detection. However, achieving remote detection at a 90 km range typically requires bulky, power-intensive laser systems, limiting their use to ground-based applications. To enable space-borne and/or balloon-borne LIDAR operations, Opto-Atomics Corp. (OAC) proposes the development of the Sodium Excitation Laser for Mesospheric Analysis (SELMA)—a compact, continuous-wave (CW) 589.16 nm laser transmitter designed for remote sodium detection in the upper atmosphere. SELMA’s primary objective is to facilitate field deployment of sodium LIDAR for characterizing the mesospheric sodium layer, enabling remote sensing of temperature, winds, density, and other key atmospheric parameters in this critical region. SELMA will provide a high-power, frequency-agile, nearly diffraction-limited laser output at the sodium D2 line in a field-deployable, ruggedized package. In Phase I, OAC will develop a high-power sodium laser prototype and experimentally demonstrate SELMA feasibility.

A sodium LIDAR laser can be used by NASA to study Earth's upper atmosphere, particularly the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, by tracking sodium layer dynamics at altitudes of around 80-105 km. The proposed technology enables precise measurements of atmospheric temperature, winds, and gravity waves in field settings, which are crucial for understanding space weather and refining predictions of space and atmospheric weather interactions. Additionally, sodium LIDAR can enhance adaptive optics systems in ground-based telescopes by creating artificial guide stars to improve astronomical observations. A 589 nm sodium laser has applications in adaptive optics for ground-based astronomical telescopes, where it creates artificial guide stars to correct atmospheric distortions and improve image resolution. It is also used in atomic physics experiments for laser cooling, trapping, and control of sodium atoms, enabling precise studies of quantum mechanics and Bose-Einstein condensates. Additionally, sodium lasers have potential applications in biophotonics and medical imaging, leveraging their specific wavelength interactions with biological tissues for diagnostics and treatment.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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