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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
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Design and Characterization Methodology for Efficient Wide Range Tunable MEMS Filters
Published on: February 4, 2018
High speed tuning mechanism for CO2 lidar systems
1U.S. Army Night Vision and Electro-Optics Center, Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060-5677, USA.
Applied Optics
|November 1, 1986
Summary
This study introduces a rapid laser tuning method using a rotating mirror and grating, achieving 400 Hz tuning rates for carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers. Peak power remains stable despite increased tuning speed.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Laser Technology
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Rapid tuning of laser sources is crucial for dynamic spectroscopic applications.
- Existing laser tuning methods often face limitations in speed or energy efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel method for high-speed laser tuning.
- To evaluate the performance of this method in terms of tuning rate, energy, and beam quality.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of a system with a rotating eight-sided mirror and a fixed grating.
- Testing the tuning capabilities across the entire carbon dioxide (CO2) lasing spectrum.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated effective tuning rates of up to 400 Hz.
- Observed diminished pulse energy at higher tuning rates, primarily affecting the pulse tail.
- Maintained near-constant peak power and preserved spatial beam profile with minimal beam steering.
Conclusions:
- The developed method enables rapid, efficient tuning of CO2 lasers.
- The technique is suitable for applications requiring fast spectral access without compromising peak laser power or beam quality.
