Novel Compact Solid-State UV Laser for Ozone DIAL

Q-Peak proposes to develop a compact, high-repetition rate, dual-line UV source based on the combination of an innovative, efficient, high-energy, single-frequency, 1047-nm Nd:YLF laser and efficient, robust nonlinear optical frequency converters. The pulse-pumped, repetitively Q-switched, Nd:YLF Master Oscillator Power Amplifier system will produce single-frequency laser pulses with greater than 50 mJ of energy per pulse in a nearly diffraction-limited beam at a 1-kHz repetition rate. Conversion of Nd:YLF energy to UV suited for ozone DIAL will be accomplished by an efficient combination of harmonic generation and optical parametric oscillators.

The proposed high-energy laser technology would offer a step-up in power and energy from our existing products. A MPS Nd:YLF laser with 100 mJ/pulse fundamental energy, 1-kHz rate and high beam quality, with the addition of harmonic generation for some systems, could provide a relatively low-cost solution for precision machining applications such as marking, cutting, welding and drilling, of interest to the electronics, automotive and medical-device industry.

The work proposed here has direct application to the development of aircraft and satellite-based ozone DIAL systems. Other NASA applications for the pump source would be in precision altimetry for earth and other planetary investigations. The pump source, combined with other nonlinear optics, could also serve as the DIAL transmitter for probing of other species than ozone. In particular, combined with optical parametric oscillators, the source we develop could provide broadly tunable infrared for sensing of a wide variety of molecular species.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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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