INNOSLAB-based single-frequency MOPA for airborne lidar detection of CO2 and methane

For the CO2 and CH4 IPDA lidar CHARM-F two single frequency Nd:YAG based MOPA systems were developed. Both lasers are used for OPO/OPA-pumping in order to generate laser radiation at 1645 nm for CH4 detection and 1572 nm for CO2 detection. By the use of a Q-switched, injection seeded and actively length-stabilized oscillator and a one-stage INNOSLAB amplifier about 85 mJ pulse energy could be generated for the CH4 system. For the CO2 system the energy was boosted in second INNOSLAB-stage to about 150 mJ. Both lasers emit laser pulses of about 30 ns pulse duration at a repetition rate of 100 Hz.

[1]  Gerhard Ehret,et al.  CHARM-F: An airborne Integrated Path Differential Absorption (IPDA) LIDAR for the simultaneous measurement of CO2 and CH4 Columns , 2011 .

[2]  J. Luttmann,et al.  Frequency stabilization of Q-switched Nd:YAG oscillators for airborne and spaceborne lidar systems , 2007, SPIE LASE.

[3]  J. Luttmann,et al.  Pick and align — High precision active alignment of optical components , 2012, 2012 IEEE 62nd Electronic Components and Technology Conference.

[4]  Bernd Jungbluth,et al.  Feasibility and performance study for a space-borne 1645nm OPO for French-German satellite mission MERLIN , 2014, Photonics West - Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering.

[5]  M. Traub,et al.  Very high-efficiency frequency-tripled Nd:YAG MOPA for spaceborne lidar , 2008, SPIE LASE.

[6]  Gerhard Ehret,et al.  CHARM-F – The Airborne CH4 and CO2 IPDA Lidar:Status and Outlook , 2012 .

[7]  Gerhard Ehret,et al.  CHARM-F, the airborne Multi-Wavelength Differentail-Absorption Lidar System for the Column-Integated Dry-Air Mixing Ration XCO2 and XCH4 , 2009 .

[8]  Gerhard Ehret,et al.  Diode-pumped single-frequency-Nd:YGG-MOPA for water–vapor DIAL measurements: design, setup and performance , 2011 .

[9]  Dieter Hoffmann,et al.  Highly precise and robust packaging of optical components , 2012, Other Conferences.

[10]  Gerhard Ehret,et al.  The French-German Climate Monitoring Initiative on Global Observations of Atmospheric Methane , 2010 .

[11]  Bastian Gronloh,et al.  Passive alignment and soldering technique for optical components , 2012, Other Conferences.

[12]  Gerhard Ehret,et al.  CHARM-F: The Airborne Integral Path Differential Absorption Lidar for Simultaneous Measurements of Atmospheric CO2 and CH4 , 2010 .

[13]  Gerhard Ehret,et al.  Characteristics of an airborne demonstrator for MERLIN , 2012 .

[14]  H. Hoffmann,et al.  Compact diode-pumped 1.1 kW Yb:YAG Innoslab femtosecond amplifier. , 2010, Optics letters.

[15]  Bernd Jungbluth,et al.  Feasibility and performance study for a space-borne 1645 nm OPO for French-German satellite mission MERLIN , 2014, Photonics Europe.

[16]  Gerhard Ehret,et al.  Optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers for airborne and spaceborne active remote sensing of CO2 and CH4 , 2011, Remote Sensing.