High Energy Parametric Laser Source and Frequency-Comb-Based Wavelength Reference for CO2 and Water Vapor DIAL in the 2 µm Region: Design and Pre-Development Experimentations

Atmosphere, vol. 12, pp. 402

Abstract

We present a differential absorption lidar (DIAL) laser transmitter concept designed around a Nested Cavity Optical Parametric Oscillator (NesCOPO) based Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA). The spectral bands are located around 2051 nm for CO2 probing and 1982 nm for H216O and HD16O water vapor isotopes. This laser is aimed at being integrated into an airborne lidar, intended to demonstrate future spaceborne instrument characteristics: high-energy (several tens of mJ nanosecond pulses) and high optical frequency stability (less than a few hundreds of kHz long term drift). For integration and efficiency purposes, the proposed design is oriented toward the use of state-of-the-art high aperture periodically poled nonlinear materials. This approach is supported by numerical calculations and preliminary experimental validations, showing that it is possible to achieve energies in the 40–50 mJ range, reaching the requirement levels for spaceborne Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) measurements. We also propose a frequency referencing technique based on beat note measurement of the laser signal with a self-stabilized optical frequency comb, which is expected to enable frequency measurement precisions better than a few 100 kHz over tens of seconds integration time, and will then be used to feed the cavity locking of the NesCOPO.

Authors 20

1. Jonas Hamperl

   Université Paris-Saclay · Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales · Département Physique, Instrumentation, Environnement et Espace

   Affiliation as printed

   DPHY, ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91123 Palaiseau, France

2. Jan Fabian Geus Aachen Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Steinbachstr. 15, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Kjell Martin Mølster

   KTH Royal Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Roslagstullsbacken 21, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden

   KTH - KTH Royal Institute of Technology [Stockholm] (SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden - Sweden)

4. Andrius Žukauskas

   KTH Royal Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Roslagstullsbacken 21, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden

   KTH - KTH Royal Institute of Technology [Stockholm] (SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden - Sweden)

5. Jean-Baptiste Dherbecourt

   Université Paris-Saclay · Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales · Département Physique, Instrumentation, Environnement et Espace

   Affiliation as printed

   DPHY, ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91123 Palaiseau, France

6. Valdas Pašiškevičius

   KTH Royal Institute of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   KTH, Royal Institute of Technology, Roslagstullsbacken 21, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden

   KTH - KTH Royal Institute of Technology [Stockholm] (SE-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden - Sweden)

7. Oliver Pitz

   SpaceTech (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   Spacetech GmbH, Seelbachstraße 13, 88090 Immenstaad, Germany

8. David Fehrenbacher

   SpaceTech (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   Spacetech GmbH, Seelbachstraße 13, 88090 Immenstaad, Germany

9. Hanjo Schaefer

   SpaceTech (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   Spacetech GmbH, Seelbachstraße 13, 88090 Immenstaad, Germany

10. Dirk Heinecke

    SpaceTech (Germany)

    Affiliation as printed

    Spacetech GmbH, Seelbachstraße 13, 88090 Immenstaad, Germany

11. Michael Strotkamp Aachen Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT

    Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, Steinbachstr. 15, 52074 Aachen, Germany

12. Paul Denk

    InnoLas Solutions (Germany)

    Affiliation as printed

    InnoLas Laser, Justus-von Liebig-Ring 8, 82152 Krailling, Germany

    InnoLas Laser (Justus-von Liebig-Ring 8, 82152 Krailling - Germany)

13. Norbert Graf

    InnoLas Solutions (Germany)

    Affiliation as printed

    InnoLas Laser, Justus-von Liebig-Ring 8, 82152 Krailling, Germany

    InnoLas Laser (Justus-von Liebig-Ring 8, 82152 Krailling - Germany)

14. Marine Dalin

    Université Paris-Saclay · Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales · Département Physique, Instrumentation, Environnement et Espace

    Affiliation as printed

    DPHY, ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91123 Palaiseau, France

15. Vincent Lebat

    Université Paris-Saclay · Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales · Département Physique, Instrumentation, Environnement et Espace

    Affiliation as printed

    DPHY, ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91123 Palaiseau, France

16. Rosa Santagata

    Université Paris-Saclay · Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales · Département Physique, Instrumentation, Environnement et Espace

    Affiliation as printed

    DPHY, ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91123 Palaiseau, France

17. Jean-Michel Melkonian

    Université Paris-Saclay · Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales · Département Physique, Instrumentation, Environnement et Espace

    Affiliation as printed

    DPHY, ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91123 Palaiseau, France

18. Antoine Godard

    Université Paris-Saclay · Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales · Département Physique, Instrumentation, Environnement et Espace

    Affiliation as printed

    DPHY, ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91123 Palaiseau, France

19. Myriam Raybaut corresponding

    Université Paris-Saclay · Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales · Département Physique, Instrumentation, Environnement et Espace

    Affiliation as printed

    DPHY, ONERA, Université Paris-Saclay, 91123 Palaiseau, France

20. Cyrille N. Flamant

    Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Université Paris-Saclay · Sorbonne Université · Institut Pierre-Simon Laplace · Laboratoire atmosphères, milieux, observations spatiales

    Affiliation as printed

    LATMOS/IPSL, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Saint-Aubin, France