AFRL Advanced Electric Lasers Branch: Construction and Upgrade of a 50-watt Facility-Class Sodium Guidestar Pump Laser

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA531724 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The development of a reliable and effective laser source for pumping mesospheric sodium to generate an artificial guidestar has been well documented. From the early achievements with 589nm high-power dye lasers at the Keck and Lick observatories to the ground-breaking 50W CW FASOR Frequency Addition Source of Optical Radiation Guidestar at the Air Forces Starfire Optical Range SOR, there has been intense interest in this technology from both the academic and military communities. Beginning in the fall of 2008, the Air Force Research Laboratorys Advanced Electric Lasers Branch began a project to build, test, verify and deliver an upgraded version of the SOR FASOR for use at the AF Maui Optical Station AMOS in the summer of 2010. This device, called FASOR-X will be similar in design to the existing SOR device and produce 50W of diffraction limited, linearly polarized narrow linewidth 589nm light by combining the output of two injection-locked NdYAG ring lasers operating at 1064nm and 1319nm using resonant sum-frequency generation in a lithium triborate crystal LBO. This upgraded system will include features such as modularized sub-components, embedded control electronics, and a simplified cooling system. The first portion of this upgrade project is to test and build the two injection laser cavities while validating the improved control mechanisms FASOR-X will employ. In parallel with this effort, the technical plans for the modularization and re-packaging of the FASOR will be finalized and coordinated with the staff at Maui. This paper summarizes the results of these efforts to date and provides updates on the AMOS FASOR-X status. Additionally AFRL plans for next-generation guidestar pump sources will be discussed.

Author(s):
Bronder, T. J. ; Miller, Harold ; Stohs, Jonathan ; Baker, Jeff ; Lucero, Art ; Gallant, Dave
Author Organization(s):
AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB KIRTLAND AFB NM
Descriptive Note:
Conference paper
Supplementary Note:
Presented at the 2009 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference, 1-4 Sep, Maui, HI.. The original document contains color images.
Pagination:
0007

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
AFRL/NM
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_4.6.1_General Engineering; JCA_4.6_Engineering; JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_5.3_Planning
Modernization Areas:
Directed Energy
Communities of Interest:
Energy and Power Technologies
Descriptor(s):
*LASER PUMPING, *ELECTRICAL LASERS, YAG LASERS, FREQUENCY, RING LASERS, INJECTION LASERS, CONTROL, ELECTRONICS, MESOSPHERE, SOURCES, OPTICAL EQUIPMENT, OPTICAL PROPERTIES, AIR FORCE, SYMPOSIA, AIR FORCE RESEARCH, SODIUM, MODULAR CONSTRUCTION, CRYSTALS, LASERS, LITHIUM, RELIABILITY, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION, PLANNING, EMBEDDING, COOLING AND VENTILATING EQUIPMENT, LABORATORIES, AIR FORCE FACILITIES, SIMPLIFICATION, TEST FACILITIES, BORATES, ADDITION, LASER CAVITIES
Field(s)/Group(s):
Lasers and Masers
Report Date:
2009 Sep 01
Creation Date:
2010 Nov 24