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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 235 records · Page 13

Observation of enhanced thermal lensing due to near-Gaussian pump energy deposition in a laser-diode side-pumped Nd:YAG laser

The authors report operation of a laser-diode side-pumped Nd:YAG laser with a novel pumping geometry that ensures efficient conversion of pump energy into the TEM00 mode. Significant enhancement of thermally induced lensing due to the near-Gaussian energy deposition profile of the pump radiation was observed. An induced lens of approximately 3.2-m focal length was measured at average incident pump powers of only 3.2 W (corresponding to a 0.6 W heat load).

Welford, David↗

Sub-hertz relative frequency stabilization of two-diode laser-pumped Nd:YAG lasers locked to a Fabry-Perot interferometer

Two-diode laser-pumped Nd:YAG lasers have been 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 has been built, and when substituted in place of the commercial interferometer produced a robust and easily repeatable beatnote linewidth of 700 MHz.

Day, Timothy↗

Tetravalent chromium (Cr(4+)) as laser-active ion for tunable solid-state lasers

Generation of femtosecond pulses from a continuous-wave mode-locked chromium-doped forsterite (Cr(4+):Mg2SiO4) laser has been accomplished. The forsterite laser was actively mode-locked using an acousto-optic modulator operating at 78 MHz with two Brewster high-dispersion glass prisms for intra-cavity chirp compensation. Transform-limited sub-100-fs pulses were routinely generated in the TEM(sub 00) mode with 85 mW of continuous power (with 1 percent output coupler), tunable over 1230-1280 nm. The shortest pulses of 60-fs pulsewidth were measured.

Seas, A.↗

Tetravalent Chromium (Cr(4+)) as Laser-Active Ion for Tunable Solid-State Lasers

During 10/31/92 - 3/31/93, the following summarizes our major accomplishments: (1) the self-mode-locked operation of the Cr:forsterite laser was achieved; (2) synchronous pumping was used to mode lock the forsterite laser resulting in picosecond pulses, which in turn provided the starting mechanism for self-mode-locking; and (3) the pulses generated had a FWHW of 105 fs and were tunable between 1230 - 1270 nm.

Seas, A.↗

Receiver design, performance analysis, and evaluation for space-borne laser altimeters and space-to-space laser ranging systems

We report here the design and the performance measurements of the breadboard receiver of the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS). The measured ranging accuracy was better than 2 cm and 10 cm for 5 ns and 30 ns wide received laser pulses under the expected received signal level, which agreed well with the theoretical analysis. The measured receiver sensitivity or the link margin was also consistent with the theory. The effects of the waveform digitizer sample rate and resolution were also measured.

Davidson, Frederic M.↗

Common-Path Heterodyne Laser-Induced Thermal Acoustics for Seedless Laser Velocimetry

We demonstrate the use of a novel technique for the detection of heterodyne laser-induced thermal acoustics signals, which allows the construction of a highly stable seedless laser velocimeter. A common-path configuration is combined with quadrature detection to provide flow direction, greatly improve robustness to misalignment and vibration, and give reliable velocity measurement at low flow velocities. Comparison with Pitot tube measurements in the freestream of a wind tunnel shows root-mean-square errors of 0.67 m/s over the velocity range 0.55 m/s.

Hart, Roger C.↗

Development of Solid State Laser Materials for Application in Lasers for Atmospheric Ozone and Water Vapor Sensing

We have grown neodymium doped mixed apatite crystals, (Sr(x)Ba(l-x)5(PO4)3F, Sr5(P(1-x)V(x)O4)3F, and Ba5(P(1-x)V(x)O4)3F, and spectroscopically studied them as potential gain media for a laser source for atmospheric water sensing operating at 944.11 nm0. We conclude that an appropriate apatite host material for a 944.11 nm laser should be a mixture of Sr5(PO4)3F with a small fraction of Ba5(PO4)3F. The precise wavelength tuning around 944.11 nm can be accomplished by varying the host composition, temperature, and threshold population inversion. In apatite crystals of mixed composition, the Amplified Spontaneous Emission (ASE) loss at 1.06 microns is predicted to be significantly smaller than that in the end members.

Noginov, Makhail A.↗

The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) Laser Transmitter

We present the final configuration of the space flight laser transmitter as delivered to the LOLA instrument. The laser consists of two oscillators with co-aligned outputs on a single bench, each capable of providing one billion plus shots.

Yu, Anthony W.↗

New Morphometric Measurements of Peak-Ring Basins on Mercury and the Moon: Results from the Mercury Laser Altimeter and Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter

Peak-ring basins (large impact craters exhibiting a single interior ring) are important to understanding the processes controlling the morphological transition from craters to large basins on planetary bodies. New image and topography data from the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft have helped to update the catalogs of peak-ring basins on Mercury and the Moon [1,2] and are enabling improved calculations of the morphometric properties of these basins. We use current orbital altimeter measurements from the Mercury Laser Altimeter (MLA) [3] and the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) [4], as well as stereo-derived topography [5], to calculate the floor depths and peak-ring heights of peak-ring basins on Mercury and the Moon. We present trends in these parameters as functions of rim-crest diameter, which are likely to be related to processes controlling the onset of peak rings in these basins.

Baker, David M. H.↗

Size Effects on Laser Powder Bed Fusion and Laser Powder Directed Energy Deposition GRCop-42 Alloy

Additive manufacturing (AM) plays a significant role in the fabrication of regeneratively cooled rocket engine combustion chambers, where internal channels are used to transport high pressure propellants to keep the engine from overheating. Cooling channels are designed with thin walls between the cooling and combustion sides, experiencing high thermal and mechanical stresses from large temperature gradients and internal pressures. Hence, selecting materials suited for this environment and maintaining a high-quality processing for this critical application is of utmost importance. GRCop-alloys (Cu-Cr-Nb) were developed as an ideal material for combustion chambers due to its high conductivity and high strength at temperature, being employed as a structural member for the hotwall with excellent heat transfer capabilities. GRCop-42 (Cu, 4 at% Cr, 2 at% Nb) has significantly matured using the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) process through microstructure, mechanical and thermophysical properties and evaluations using hot-fire testing. Additionally, Laser Powder Directed Energy Deposition (LP-DED) has demonstrated successful deposition and geometry samples using GRCop-42. While the maturation in properties has focused on bulk material properties from standard test specimens, these cannot be extrapolated to be used in thin walls, as different features (i.e., microstructure, porosity, and surface texture) have a greater effect on thin walls, especially on AM structures built using L-PBF and LP-DED. This presentation provides an overview of the effects introduced by reducing the thickness on the fabrication, microstructure, surface metrology and subsequent mechanical properties of GRCop-42 using L-PBF and LP-DED as well as future work planned for this research.

Gabriel Demeneghi↗