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High-energy single-longitudinal mode nearly diffraction-limited optical parametric source with 3 MHz frequency
Myriam Raybaut1, Thomas Schmid, Antoine Godard
1ONERA, The French Aerospace Lab, Chemin de la Hunière, Palaiseau, France. myriam.raybaut@onera.fr
Optics Letters
|July 3, 2009
Summary
We developed a new optical parametric source for CO2 lidar. This advanced system generates a stable, high-energy beam for greenhouse gas detection.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Environmental Monitoring
- Laser Technology
Background:
- Differential-absorption lidar (DIAL) is crucial for monitoring greenhouse gases.
- Developing stable, high-energy laser sources is essential for DIAL system performance.
- Existing sources may lack the required stability or energy for precise measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on a novel nanosecond master oscillator power amplifier optical parametric source.
- To demonstrate its suitability for CO2 differential-absorption lidar applications.
- To achieve high energy output with excellent beam quality and frequency stability.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an entangled-cavity nanosecond optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with a type II periodically poled lithium niobate crystal.
- Employed a multistage parametric amplifier to boost signal emission.
- Characterized beam quality (M2 factor) and frequency stability.
Main Results:
- Generated up to 11 mJ of energy in a single-longitudinal-mode beam.
- Achieved a nearly diffraction-limited beam with an M2 quality factor of approximately 1.5.
- Maintained a frequency stability better than 3 MHz root mean square (rms).
Conclusions:
- The developed optical parametric source offers a robust solution for CO2 DIAL.
- The system's high energy and stability are advantageous for greenhouse gas detection.
- This technology has broad applicability for monitoring various atmospheric gases.
