Efficient 3-D Ladar Source, Phase I

We propose to develop a significant improvement in the performance of diode-pumped, Nd:YLF lasers by employing direct optical pumping of the upper level of the 1-micron laser transition. This novel pumping technique has been applied to other Nd laser systems, notably Nd:YAG and Nd:vanadate, but to our knowledge this has not been successfully applied to Nd:YLF laser systems. Q-Peak is in a unique position to develop this technique specifically for Nd:YLF owing to the extensive work that we have done over the past decade in developing our patented MPS systems, which employ Nd:YLF as the gain medium. Researchers who have applied this pumping technique to Nd:YAG have shown an increase in slope efficiency of about 20% and a reduction in thermal load of about 30%. We expect to see similar levels of improvement in Nd:YLF performance in this project.

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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