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Completed TRL 3 (started at 2, targeting 3)
This new laser work will focus on a development of compact optical frequency references to be used in future earth-observing satellites for trace gas measurement and for gravity mapping. This compact reference concept replaces or enhances traditional, bulky optical frequency references represented by a multi-pass gas cell and by a long Fabry-Perot cavity in different science fields.
While the laser source and associated optical components can be integrated into a chip-scale integrated circuit, gas reference cells have been the bulkiest element in modern fiber optics, and less reliable compared to other components within lidar systems. Future missions require a compact optical frequency reference to be fitted into a small satellite bus. This technology utilizes iodine’s rich and strong absorption lines in the visible wavelength regions and nonlinear optical frequency conversion technique. It is expected to eliminate the need for long multi-pass cell or a bulky reference gas cell in the missions where laser wavelength must be stable. This kind of absolute frequency reference is expected to enhance the laser ranging interferometer, for example, by eliminating the need for laser frequency scanning to acquire optical phase locking between spacecraft. This technology can be applied to any wavelength between 1 µm and 2 µm, in addition to 0.5 µm region where the iodine molecule has the strong absorption lines.
Gas sensing lidar, gravity mapping, satellite docking, sodium lidar, laser communication, precision interferometry.
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