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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1998

Precision Spectroscopy, Diode Lasers, and Optical Frequency Measurement Technology

This compilation is a selected set of reprints from the Optical Frequency Measurement Group of the Time and Frequency Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and consists of work published between 1987 and 1997. The two main programs represented here are (1) development of tunable diode-laser technology for scientific applications and precision measurements, and (2) research toward the goal of realizing optical-frequency measurements and synthesis. The papers are organized chronologically in five, somewhat arbitrarily chosen categories: Diode Laser Technology, Tunable Laser Systems, Laser Spectroscopy, Optical Synthesis and Extended Wavelength Coverage, and Multi-Photon Interactions and Optical Coherences.

DIODE LASERS↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Ultra-Low Noise Laser and Optical Frequency Comb-Based Timing System for the Event Horizon Explorer (EHE) Mission

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) requires a highly stable time reference and synchronization system to maintain coherence between observations recorded independently at multiple stations – for example, the array of ground-based radio telescopes that comprise the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). Instability in the time reference or inaccuracy in the synchronization impacts phase conference and reduces the performance of the VLBI system. For space-based telescopes like the Event Horizon Explorer (EHE) mission, the precision timing system must meet the size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints of the spacecraft platform and be capable of operating in the space environment. The EHE mission is a proposed extension to the EHT that can improve the angular and time resolution of observations by enabling longer interferometric baselines than are possible on the Earth and sampling a wide range of Fourier spatial frequencies throughout the orbital motion. In this effort, we demonstrate the performance of one option for the EHE mission: the use of a space-qualified, ultra-low noise laser developed as part of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission as the timing reference, and an optical frequency comb to transfer the stability of this laser to the microwave regime for instrumentation use. We describe the implementation of the microwave down-conversion, in which the LISA cavity-stabilized laser is locked to a self-referenced optical frequency comb to divide the optical frequency down to 100 MHz. The phase noise of the 100 MHz signal is measured and validated using a phase noise analyzer that is referenced to a separate laboratory ultra-stable laser system. We present the results of this experiment, which demonstrates that the performance of this system meets the EHE requirement: a relative frequency error of 1e-14 from 1 to 30 seconds.

Hannah Tomio↗
NASA NTRS1987

Theoretical studies of Resonance Enhanced Stimulated Raman Scattering (RESRS) of frequency-doubled Alexandrite laser wavelength in cesium vapor

The solutions for the imaginary susceptibility of the Raman field transition with arbitrary relaxation rates and field strengths are examined for three different sets of relaxation rates. These rates correspond to: (1) Far Infrared (FIR) Raman lasers in the diabatic collision regime without consideration of coupled population decay in a closed system, (2) Raman FIR lasers in the diabatic collision regime with coupled population conserving decay, and (3) IR Raman gain in cesium vapor. The model is further expanded to include Doppler broadening and used to predict the peak gain as a function of detuning for a frequency doubled Alexandrite laser-pumped cesium vapor gain cell.

Lawandy, Nabil M.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Trace gas absorption spectroscopy using laser difference-frequency spectrometer for environmental application

A widely tunable infrared spectrometer based on difference frequency generation (DFG) has been developed for organic trace gas detection by laser absorption spectroscopy. On-line measurements of concentration of various hydrocarbons, such as acetylene, benzene, and ethylene, were investigated using high-resolution DFG trace gas spectroscopy for highly sensitive detection.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS1973

High-sensitivity receiver for CO2 laser communications

Wideband heterodyne receiver provides detection and demodulation of incident frequency modulated laser signal; search and acquisition circuitry to align two stations; tracking circuitry to maintain spatial alignment; and laser frequency monitor to frequency lock the transmit and local oscillator lasers.

Peyton, B.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Low data rate coherent optical link demonstration using frequency stabilized solid state lasers

A low data rate laboratory heterodyne link demonstration operating at 1.06 micron using frequency stabilized Nd:YAG lasers was implemented. The data was modulated onto the optical carrier at 100 kbps using binary pulse position modulation. Phase coherent reception was achieved by closing the receiver phase tracking loop around the piezo-electric and temperature-tuned local oscillator laser. Initial frequency acquisition was accomplished by linearly scanning the LO frequency over the uncertainty range while a combined frequency and phase tracking loop searches for a lock indicator signal. The link performance was experimentally evaluated and compared to the theoretical predictions.

Chen, CHIEN-C.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Noise amplitude measurements of single-mode CW lasers at radio frequencies

This letter presents the results of noise measurements for a variety of single-longitudinal-mode CW lasers (Ar/+/, standing-wave-dye, and ring-dye) that are commercially available. A quantitative comparison of the total output power fluctuations detected over the 7-300 MHz region (3 dB points) is presented.

Herring, G. C.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Systems and methods for dual comb spectroscopy

A frequency-measurement method uses a dual frequency-comb spectrometer as an optical wavemeter to measure the frequency of a reference laser that is used to frequency-stabilize the spectrometer. The method includes measuring a walking rate of center bursts in a sequence of interferograms recorded by the spectrometer, determining a number of teeth in each of a plurality of Nyquist windows formed by the dual frequency-comb spectrometer, and determining a Nyquist number of the one Nyquist window covering the laser frequency. The reference laser frequency can then be determined from the number of teeth in each Nyquist window, the Nyquist number, and the comb spacing of either one of the two frequency combs of the dual frequency-comb spectrometer. The reference laser frequency does not need to be measured with a separate wavemeter, or calibrated with respect to a known atomic or molecular transition.

Rieker, Gregory B.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Low temperature operation of an S2 laser using radio frequency simmer discharges

Technological problems stemming from high temperature operation of the sulfur resonator have hindered its development as a tunable, efficient, discharge pumped laser. The use of RF simmer discharges is shown to reduce previous temperature constraints by dissociating polyatomic sulfur molecules into the dimer, such that lasing is achieved when pumped by an XeCl excimer laser. The peak power output of the S2 laser and the transmission spectra through sulfur discharges are used to infer the effectiveness of the discharge in dissociating the vapor.

Killeen, K. P.↗
NASA NTRS1987

NO2 heterodyne frequency measurements with a tunable diode laser, a CO laser transfer oscillator and CO2 laser standards

Heterodyne frequency measurements have been made on selected groups of nitrogen dioxide rovibronic transitions between 1580.8 and 1650.7/cm. The groups are separated by 7 to 10/cm, and the intent is to provide a limited (and interim) calibration table for the region. In addition to a table of measured frequencies in the region, figures of spectra in the vicinity of the measured lines are included to provide a map for identifying the transitions measured.

Zink, L. R.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Analysis of THz generation by multicolor laser pulses with various frequency ratios

Here, terahertz (THz) generation in a gas medium is simulated by quantum calculations with multicolor intense laser pulses of various frequency ratios. By correlating THz radiation with the above-threshold-ionization photoelectron spectrum, we confirm that our previously proposed free-free transition model for the generation of THz radiation is also applicable to multicolor pulses. THz photon emissions can proceed through transitions between continuous states with similar energies that have opposite parities. This mechanism predicts that THz waves can be efficiently generated at special two-color laser frequency ratios when the multiphoton mixing condition is satisfied. Applying this model to multicolor fields (sawtooth wave shape), we provide a quantum-mechanical interpretation for the reason for THz radiation enhancement. A scheme combining multiple lasers to raise THz radiation satisfying multiphoton mixing conditions is also proposed.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Linewidth narrowing and wideband frequency modulation of a DBR laser

We present a scheme to phase-lock a 240 mW, 852 nm distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser to a fixed-frequency narrow-linewidth laser with a rapidly tunable frequency offset near 9 GHz. The phase-lock is accomplished by electronic feedback on the beatnote between the two lasers. The frequency offset can be swept 200 MHz in 300 us, limited by the feedback loop bandwidth, allowing for its use in complex cooling and state preparation schemes needed in atomic physics experiments. Here, we find that the phase-lock reduces the linewidth of the DBR laser below its natural linewidth of ~400 kHz to ~100 kHz

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1974

Is there a high frequency limit to laser action

A review and discussion of modern theories and results leads to the conclusion that an absolute upper bound exists to the photon energies for which laser action can occur, and that depending on the laser medium, it lies in the range between 1 and 100 MeV. At higher energies, a wave cannot grow as rapidly as it is depleted. The same restriction applies to frequency conversion devices employing nonlinear interactions.

Baldwin, G. C.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Efficient, frequency-stable laser-diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser

One of the main goals of the study was to demonstrate a low-power efficient Nd:YAG laser oscillator for applications in remote coherent Doppler anemometry. An electrical-to-optical slope efficiency of 6.5 percent has been achieved by using commercially available CW laser diodes of up to 100 mW to pump monolithic Nd:YAG rod lasers. The observed Nd:YAG oscillation threshold is at 2.3 mW of laser-diode output power, i.e., a small fraction of the rated output power. The highest Nd:YAG CW output power reached is 4.4 mW at an overall electrical-to-optical efficiency of 1.5 percent. The frequency jitter is less than 10 kHz in 0.3 s.

Zhou, B.↗