Disturbance reduction system: testing technology for precision formation control
The Disturbance Reduction System (DRS) is a space technology demonstration within NASA's New Millenium Program.
orbit↗
Engineering topics
Byer, R. L.
Publications and source records attributed to Byer, R. L..
Coherence properties of a doubly resonant monolithic optical parametric oscillator
A doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator (DRO) pumped with the second harmonic of a narrow-linewidth Nd:YAG laser is described. The linewidth of the DRO signal was less than 13 kHz, the DRO was shown to generate a phase-locked subharmonic of the pump at degeneracy, and the signal and the idler were shown to be mutually coherent with the pump and to be phase-anticorrelated with each other away from degeneracy. The signal-idler heterodyne linewidth was 500 Hz, and pump phase modulation was shown to transfer to the DRO phase at degeneracy.
Nabors, C. D.↗
Demonstration of a low bandwidth 1.06-micron optical phase-locked loop for coherent homodyne communication
A type II 1.06-micron optical phase-locked loop (OPLL) for use in a coherent homodyne receiver is discussed. Diode-laser-pumped solid-state lasers are used for both the local oscillator and transmitter, because their phase noise is significantly lower than that of diode lasers. Closed-loop RMS phase noise of less than 12 mrad (0.69 deg) is achieved, and modulation-demodulation in bulk modulators at rates from 20 kHz to 20 MHz with less than 19 deg of modulation depth is demonstrated.
Day, T.↗
Active frequency stabilization of a 1.062-micron, Nd:GGG, diode-laser-pumped nonplanar ring oscillator to less than 3 Hz of relative linewidth
Results are presented on the frequency stabilization of two diode-laser-pumped ring lasers that are independently locked to the same high-finesse interferometer. The relative frequency stability is measured by locking the lasers one free spectral range apart and observing the heterodyne beat note. The resultant beat note width of 2.9 Hz is consistent with the theoretical system noise-limited linewidth and is approximately 20 times that expected for shot-noise-limited performance.
Day, T.↗
SUNLITE program. Sub-Hertz relative frequency stabilization of two diode laser pumped Nd:YAG lasers locked to a Fabry-Perot interferometer
Two laser pumped Nd:YAG lasers were frequency stabilized to a commercial 6.327 GHz free spectral range Fabry-Perot interferometer yielding a best case beatnote linewidth of 330 MHz. In addition, a Fabry-Perot interferometer with a free spectral range of 680 MHz, a linewidth of 25 kHz, and a finesse of 27,500 was built, and when it was substituted in place of the commercial interferometer, it produced a robust and easily repeatable beatnote linewidth of 700 MHz.
Byer, R. L.↗
Efficient monolithic MgO:LiNbO3 singly resonant optical parametric oscillator
A monolithic MgO:LiNbO3 singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (OPO) was operated as both a standing-wave and a ring-geometry resonator. The OPO was pumped by the second harmonic of an amplified single-mode diode-laser-pumped Nd:YAG laser. Pump depletions of greater than 60 percent were observed when pumping four times greater than the 35-W threshold. The OPO output at the resonant signal tuned with temperature from 834 to 958 nm, while the corresponding idler tuned from 1.47 to 1.2 microns. The spectral characteristics of the OPO signal output and the relative merits of a standing wave versus a ring geometry are discussed.
Kozlovsky, W. J.↗
Visible BaB2O4 optical parametric oscillator pumped at 355 nm by a single-axial-mode pulsed source
A visible BaB2O4 optical parametric oscillator (OPO) pumped by a single-axial-mode 355-nm source has been demonstrated. An average output power of 140 mW with a signal wave conversion efficiency of 13 percent and an idler conversion efficiency of 11 percent for a total conversion efficiency of 24 percent has been achieved. The oscillator has continuously tuned from 412 nm to 2.55 microns limited by the infrared transmission range of the crystal. Through injection seeding, single-axial-mode OPO operation with a corresponding OPO linewidth of less than 3 GHz was obtained.
Fan, Y. X.↗
Spectroscopy and diode laser-pumped operation of Tm, Ho:YAG
Spectroscopic measurements and analysis of diode laser-pumped operation of Tm, Ho:YAG at 2.1 microns at room temperature have been performed. The peak effective stimulated emission cross section is measured to be 9 x 10-21 sq cm at 2.091 microns and the upper state lifetime is 8.5 ms. Under diode laser pumping, thresholds of 4.4 mW of absorbed power and slope efficiency of 19 percent have been demonstrated. Calculations of threshold power are performed based on the spectroscopic measurements. An energy transfer upconversion process is identified which leads to a sublinear rise in upper-state population with pump power.
Fan, Tso Yee↗
Free-flying experiment to measure the Schawlow-Townes linewidth limit of a 300 THz laser oscillator
Recent advances in laser diode-pumped solid state laser sources permit the design and testing of laser sources with linewidths that approach the Schawlow-Townes limit of 1 Hz/mW of output power. Laser diode pumped solid state ring oscillators have been operated with CW output power levels of 25 mW at electrical efficiencies that exceed 6 percent. These oscillators are expected to operate for lifetimes that approach those of the laser diode sources which is now approaching 20,000 hours. The efficiency and lifetime of these narrow linewidth laser sources will enable space measurements of gravity waves, remote sensing applications (including local range rate and measurements), and laser sources for frequency and time standards. A free-flight experiment, 'SUNLITE', is being designed to measure the linewidth of this all-solid-state laser system.
Byer, R. L.↗
OPO performance with a long pulse length, single frequency Nd:YAG laser pump
With the advent of new nonlinear materials and single-frequency pump sources, there is renewed interest in optical parametric oscillators (OPOs). A single-mode diode-laser-pumped monolithic Nd:YAG nonplanar ring laser that is both amplified and frequency doubled is used to pump a monolithic MgO:LiNbO3 pulsed singly resonant OPO. The OPO signal output was temperature tuned from 834 to 958 nm, producing an idler tuning from 1.47 to 1.2 microns. Efforts toward a CW all-solid-state doubly resonant OPO are also described.
Kozlovsky, W. J.↗
Continuous-wave operation at 2.1 microns of a diode-laser-pumped, Tm-sensitized Ho:Y3Al5O12 laser at 300 K
Room-temperature operation of a continuous-wave Tm-sensitized Ho:YAG laser at 2.0974 microns has been achieved under diode-laser pumping at 781.5 nm. Observed thresholds are as low as 4.4 mW, with a slope efficiency of 19 percent with 0.5 percent output coupling.
Fan, T. Y.↗
Monolithic Isolated Single-Mode Ring Laser
MISER uses four-sided ring to lase nonreciprocally. Laser concept provides very-compact, efficient, and stable source of coherent radiation. Lasers of single, very-stable frequency desirable for number of purposes. Frequency stability makes possible coherent detection of laser radiation with low-bandwidth detector, useful for communications. Allows very-high-resolution spectroscopy. Any application where desired to use laser in way microwaves used traditionally enhanced if frequency very stable.
Kane, T. J.↗
Diode pumped solid-state laser oscillators for spectroscopic applications
The rapid improvement in diode laser pump sources has led to the recent progress in diode laser pumped solid state lasers. To date, electrical efficiencies of greater than 10 percent were demonstrated. As diode laser costs decrease with increased production volume, diode laser and diode laser array pumped solid state lasers will replace the traditional flashlamp pumped Nd:YAG laser sources. The use of laser diode array pumping of slab geometry lasers will allow efficient, high peak and average power solid state laser sources to be developed. Perhaps the greatest impact of diode laser pumped solid state lasers will be in spectroscopic applications of miniature, monolithic devices. Single-stripe diode-pumped operation of a continuous-wave 946 nm Nd:YAG laser with less than 10 m/w threshold was demonstrated. A slope efficiency of 16 percent near threshold was shown with a projected slope efficiency well above a threshold of 34 percent based on results under Rhodamine 6G dye-laser pumping. Nonlinear crystals for second-harmonic generation of this source were evaluated. The KNbO3 and periodically poled LiNbO3 appear to be the most promising.
Byer, R. L.↗
Diode-pumped continuous-wave Nd:glass laser
The paper reports on diode-laser pumping of monolithic Nd:glass laser oscillators. End pumping with a single-stripe diode laser, a threshold of 2.2 mW, and a slope efficiency of 42 percent were observed on a 2-mm-long oscillator with a mode radius of 35 microns. The oscillator generated 2.5 mW of single-ended output power in many axial modes.
Kozlovsky, W. J.↗
Efficient GaAlAs diode-laser-pumped operation of Nd:YLF at 1.047 micron with intracavity doubling to 523.6 nm
Diode-laser-pumped Nd:YLF lasers are demonstrated at 1.047 microns with less than 1-mW thresholds and internal quantum efficiencies approaching 70 percent. Operation at 1.053 microns has also been achieved. Intracavity second-harmonic generation using MgO:LiNbO3 has generated up to 145-micro-W output at 523.6 nm for 30.1 mW of diode-laser pump power.
Fan, T. Y.↗
62-dB-gain multiple-pass slab geometry Nd:YAG amplifier
A flash-lamp-pumped slab Nd:YAG laser amplifier with 62 dB of gain is demonstrated. The amplifier remains linear for energy extraction up to 12 mJ, and the beam spatial quality remains good at repetition rates up to 10 Hz. The slab geometry provides for gain averaging in the zigzag dimension, thus eliminating the undesirable effects of nonuniform pumping. This averaging and the necessity for only a single compact gain element are valuable attributes that may allow for eventual laser-diode array pumping of the slab Nd:YAG amplifier.
Kane, T. J.↗
Growth and evaluation of AgGaS2 and AgGaSe2 for infrared nonlinear applications
Significant advances were made in the growth technology of silver thiogallate (AgGaS2) and silver selenogallate (AgGaSe2). High efficiency harmonic generation of carbon dioxide laser radiation and tunable infrared parametric oscillation were demonstrated using these materials. Nonliner frequency conversion in the infrared was limited by the optical properties and the size of the available nonlinear materials. The development of these materials has reduced some of the limitations and generated wide interest. The continued development and application of AgGaS2 and AgGaSe2 now appears assured.
Byer, R. L.↗
Efficient second harmonic generation of 10-micron radiation in AgGaSe2
AgGaSe2 crystals for nonlinear infrared applications are being grown reproducibly. Using high-quality, 2-cm-long crystals, 14 percent energy and 60 percent peak intensity conversion efficiency have been demonstrated for second harmonic generation of the pulsed output of a CO2 miniature transversely excited atmospheric laser.
Eckardt, R. C.↗