MERLIN laser platform: inherent stability and reliability aspects with prospects for future LIDAR applications

International Conference on Space Optics (ICSO), pp. 147

Abstract

The Methane Remote Sensing LIDAR Mission (MERLIN) is a Franco-German cooperation between the French Space Agency CNES and the German Space Agency at DLR. The Laser Optical Bench for the IPDA LIDAR instrument is currently being built at Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, based in Aachen, Germany. The laser bench is one of the core parts of the payload, for which Airbus Defence and Space GmbH is the Prime Contractor. The laser and laser housing design were developed and optimized in close cooperation between Airbus Defence and Space GmbH and Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology. This paper will provide an overview of the flight hardware’s AIT status, the achieved qualification status of all optical components and the lifetime test results of the pump diodes, the electro-optical switch, and the Piezo actors. Furthermore, we will highlight the inherent stability aspects of the laser: for example, the demonstrated stable and full-performance operation of the oscillator and the amplifier over a wide range of thermal boundary conditions. We will also present the excellent optical performance of the sub assembled OPO section, which was integrated onto the laser bench.

Authors 8

1. Jana Ammersbach Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT (Germany)

2. Bastian Gronloh
   Affiliation as printed

   RUPHOS - Rugged Photonics Systems GmbH (Germany)

3. T. Heider Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT (Germany)

4. Jörg Luttmann Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT (Germany)

5. Melina Reiter Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT (Germany)

6. Matthias Winzen Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT (Germany)

7. Witalij Wirz Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT (Germany)

8. H.-D. Hoffmann Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT (Germany)