High-energy diode-pumped alexandrite amplifier development with applications in satellite-based lidar
File(s)
Author(s)
Coney, alexander
Damzen, Michael
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Efficient, wavelength-tunable diode-pumped alexandrite laser systems offer the potential for a more versatile, satellite-based lidar source compared to fixed wavelength Nd:YAG systems and non-space compliant lamp-pumped alexandrite. In this paper, we develop a strategy to enable the high-energy operation required for atmospheric lidar based on an efficient diode-pumped Master-Oscillator Power-Amplifier (MOPA) system design. A novel multi-pass ‘diamond’ slab amplifier geometry is introduced alongside the experimental results of the world’s first diode-pumped alexandrite amplifier producing a gain of 2.13 in a demonstration system. A diode-pumped Q-switched alexandrite oscillator is presented with a record-highest pulse energy of 3.80 mJ. Detailed optimisation of a two-stage amplifier design is studied numerically and maximised with temperature, wavelength and pump pulse duration to produce 50 mJ pulse energy. This forms part of an optimised alexandrite MOPA design capable of high pulse energy, showing the future potential of diode pumped alexandrite for satellite-based atmospheric lidar.
Date Issued
2021
Date Acceptance
2020-11-16
Citation
Journal of the Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics, 2021, 38 (1), pp.209-219
ISSN
0740-3224
Publisher
Optical Society of America
Start Page
209
End Page
219
Journal / Book Title
Journal of the Optical Society of America B: Optical Physics
Volume
38
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Optical Society of America
Sponsor
European Space Agency / Estec
Identifier
https://www.osapublishing.org/josab/abstract.cfm?uri=josab-38-1-209
Grant Number
4000115840/15/NL/RA/zk
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Optics
LONGITUDINAL MODE-OPERATION
EXCITED-STATE ABSORPTION
TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE
LASER
EFFICIENCY
AIRBORNE
0102 Applied Mathematics
0205 Optical Physics
0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Optics
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2020-11-17