Modulated Pulsed Laser Sources for Imaging Lidars.

摘要

This report summarizes work performed under Navy SBIR topic No. N07-036 demonstrating the feasibility of using a pulsed 1O64nm laser diode to create pulses at 500 kHz with pulsewidths of 2O-25ns that are modulated at RF frequencies using an electro-optic modulator based on engineered nonlinear optical material. The modulated pulses are then amplified using a single-stage fiber amplifier and data is provided showing that powers of 10-13W will be ultimately output. Second harmonic generation from the amplifier output to produce 5W at 332nm is possible using bulk engineered nonlinear optical material. Through the choice of specific laser diode technology, the pulsed output linewidth will remain narrow enough to allow efficient doubling through quasi phase matching while being sufficiently broadened to prevent parasitic processes such as stimulated Brillouin scattering during amplification. The key benefits of this approach include wide latitude in operational pulse rate, pulse width, and modulating RF frequency while remaining in a compact, rugged package.