Continuously-Tunable, Narrow-Linewidth, Q-Switched Cr:LiSAF Laser for Lidar Applications

A continuously-tunable, narrow-linewidth, flashlamp-pumped, Q-switched Cr: LiSAF laser has been developed (energy: 30 mJ, pulsewidth: 40 ns, linewidth:<2 GHz) and was used successfully for the DIAL(differential absorption lidar) measurements of atmospheric water vapor. Application to LIF lidar for the remote detection of metal oxide fluorescence was also demonstrated using the frequency doubled output of the laser transmitter.