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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 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Early Results from NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) Experiment Program

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) mission began its two-year Experiment Program in June 2022. This experimental phase includes long-term measurement of the effects of the atmosphere (turbulence, weather) on the performance and availability of lasercom. Furthermore, various future operational scenarios including robotic and exploration missions and various network service configurations are being emulated. In addition to experiments and demonstrations proposed by the LCRD Investigator Team, NASA enables individuals and groups from government agencies, academia, and industry to propose experiments under the LCRD Guest Experimenters Program. This conference paper provides highlights of the early LCRD experiments and a preview of the future experiments, including relaying data to and from the Integrated LCRD Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) on the International Space Station. The LCRD geosynchronous payload includes two laser communications terminals interconnected via an onboard electronic switch, and can relay information between two optical ground stations located in California and Hawaii. LCRD is a joint project involving NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL).

lasercom↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Early Results from NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) Experiment Program

NASA’s Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD) mission began its two-year Experiment Program in June of 2022. This experimental phase includes long-term measurement of the effects of the atmosphere (turbulence, weather) on the performance and availability of lasercom. In addition, various future operational scenarios including robotic and exploration missions, and various network service configurations are being emulated. In addition to experiments and demonstrations proposed by the LCRD Investigator Team, NASA enables individuals and groups from government agencies, academia, and industry to propose experiments under the LCRD Guest Experimenters Program. This conference paper provides highlights of the early LCRD experiments and a preview of the remaining experiments, including relaying data to and from the Integrated LCRD Low-Earth Orbit User Modem and Amplifier Terminal (ILLUMA-T) on the International Space Station. The LCRD geosynchronous payload includes two laser communications terminals interconnected via an on-board electronic switch, and can relay information between two optical ground stations located in California and Hawaii. LCRD is a joint project between NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory (MIT LL).

lasercom↗
DOE OSTI2020

Generation of gamma radiation by a subterawatt ultrashort laser pulse: optimisation of preplasma and pulse duration

We report an experimental and numerical study of the acceleration of electrons in a plasma interacting with a subterawatt laser pulse (intensity of ∼3 × 10{sup 18} W cm{sup −2} at a pulse duration of 50 fs). A preplasma layer on the surface of a molybdenum target is formed by an additional laser pulse with a duration of 8 ns and an intensity of ∼2 × 10{sup 12} W cm{sup −2}. It is shown that an increase in the laser pulse duration to 1700 fs at a constant energy (and a proportional decrease in intensity) leads to an increase in the yield of bremsstrahlung γ-radiation by more than an order of magnitude when the nanosecond pulse is ahead of the femtosecond one by 15 − 25 ns. Interferometry data and results of diagnostics of optical and γ-radiation of a plasma demonstrate that the collisional ionisation of atoms by electrons oscillating in the field of such a laser pulse plays an essential role in the formation of electron density profile. The sensitivity of the described effect to the level of amplified spontaneous emission is determined, despite the nanosecond pulse impact. Numerical simulations show that at a large pulse duration, the acceleration of electrons is stipulated by the beaking of plasma waves excited during stimulated Raman scattering of laser radiation. (paper)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
NASA NTRS1988

Planetary radio lasing

Both the Earth's auroral kilometric radiation (AKR) and Jupiter's decametric radio S-bursts are attributed to natural radio lasing. Presumably consisting of self-excited, closed-loop wave feedback oscillations between local irregularities of the source plasma density, this radio lasing is comparable to that which occurs in man-made optical lasers, although at radio, rather than optical wavelengths. As a result, it should produce a multiple discrete emission spectrum and intense, coherent beams. Recent observations of the AKR's discreteness and coherence have clearly ruled out the previous open-loop amplifier model for such emissions, and recent observations of the Jovian S-bursts have shown the expected, regularly-spaced, longitudinal laser modes. These new observations thus confirm the proposed planetary cyclotron radio lasing at both planets.

Calvert, W.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Parallel Broadband Femtosecond Reflection Spectroscopy at a Soft X-Ray Free-Electron Laser

X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and the directly linked X-ray reflectivity near absorption edges yield a wealth of specific information on the electronic structure around the resonantly addressed element. Observing the dynamic response of complex materials to optical excitations in pump–probe experiments requires high sensitivity to small changes in the spectra which in turn necessitates the brilliance of free electron laser (FEL) pulses. However, due to the fluctuating spectral content of pulses generated by self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE), FEL experiments often struggle to reach the full sensitivity and time-resolution that FELs can in principle enable. Here, we implement a setup which solves two common challenges in this type of spectroscopy using FELs: First, we achieve a high spectral resolution by using a spectrometer downstream of the sample instead of a monochromator upstream of the sample. Thus, the full FEL bandwidth contributes to the measurement at the same time, and the FEL pulse duration is not elongated by a monochromator. Second, the FEL beam is divided into identical copies by a transmission grating beam splitter so that two spectra from separate spots on the sample (or from the sample and known reference) can be recorded in-parallel with the same spectrometer, enabling a spectrally resolved intensity normalization of pulse fluctuations in pump–probe scenarios. We analyze the capabilities of this setup around the oxygen K- and nickel L-edges recorded with third harmonic radiation of the free electron laser in Hamburg (FLASH), demonstrating the capability for pump–probe measurements with sensitivity to reflectivity changes on the per mill level.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2000

High-Q Microsphere Cavity for Laser Stabilization and Optoelectronic Microwave Oscillator

With submillimeter size and optical Q up to approximately 10 (exp 10), microspheres with whispering-gallery (WG) modes are attractive new component for fiber-optics/photonics applications and a potential core in ultra-compact high-spectral-purity optical and microwave oscillators. In addition to earlier demonstrated optical locking of diode laser to WG mode in a microsphere, we report on microsphere application in the microwave optoelectronic oscillator, OEO. In OEO, a steady-state microwave modulation of optical carrier is obtained in a closed loop including electro-optical modulator, fiber-optic delay, detector and microwave amplifier. OEO demonstrates exceptionally low phase noise (-140 dBc/Hz at l0kHz from approximately 10GHz carrier) with a fiber length approximately 2km. Current technology allows to put all parts of the OEO, except the fiber, on the same chip. Microspheres, with their demonstrated Q equivalent to a kilometer fiber storage, can replace fiber delays in a truly integrated device. We have obtained microwave oscillation in microsphere-based OEO at 5 to 18 GHz, with 1310nm and 1550nm optical carrier, in two configurations: 1) with external DFB pump laser, and 2) with a ring laser including microsphere and a fiber optic amplifier. Also reported is a simple and efficient fiber coupler for microspheres facilitating their integration with existing fiber optics devices.

Ilchenko, Vladimir S.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Applicability of semiclassical methods for modeling laser-enhanced fusion rates in a realistic setting

In the context of the potential laser-induced enhancement to the rates of DHe 3 and DT fusion, we discuss the frequently-used Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin (WKB) method and the imaginary-time method (ITM). For static external electric fields, we find that these methods predict significant enhancement to the fusion cross section for electric-field strengths > 10 14 V/m, especially at low values (≈ keV) for the enter-of-mass (CoM) energy. When considering dynamic electric fields, this enhancement can be amplified by considering increased photon frequencies. However, we also pro- vide a review of the region of laser-parameter phase space where these semiclassical methods are applicable. Here, we conclude that this allowable region decreases for higher photon frequencies in con-junction with lower values for the electric-field strength, motivating the need for future experiments to test the predictions of these methods and their ranges of validity.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2004

Laser Sounder Approach for Measuring Atmospheric CO2 from Orbit

We report on an active remote sensing approach using an erbium fiber amplifier based transmitter for atmospheric CO2 measurements in an overtone band near 1.57 microns and initial horizontal path measurements to less than 1% precision.

Krainak, Michael A.↗
NASA NTRS1998

2-Micron Diode-Pumped Pulsed Laser Transmitter for SPARCLE: A Coherent Wind Lidar Shuttle Mission

To enable a tropospheric vector wind velocity profiling from space with a pulsed Doppler lidar, a diode-pumped, room temperature Ho:Tm:YLF coherent pulsed transmitter has been developed at NASA Langley Research Center. This pulsed laser transmitter will be a part of coherent wind lidar shuttle mission SPARCLE. The acronym stands for SPAce Readiness Coherent Lidar Experiment and is primarily a technology demonstration mission and is expected to fly in 2001 as NASA's New Millennium Program (NMP) second Earth Orbiter (EO-2) mission. The laser transmitter for SPARCLE is a Ho:Tm:YLF power oscillator operating at eye-safe wavelength of 2.05 microns. The Q-switched output energy is 125 mJ at six Hz, and it has a near-transform limited beam with a pulse width of 170 ns. The high power and high beam quality of this laser makes it well suited as a coherent wind lidar transmitter on a space platform. When the output of this power oscillator is amplified by using four diode-pumped Ho:Tm:YLF amplifiers, an output energy of 600 mJ at 10 Hz is achieved. This is the highest energy ever produced at 10 Hz, and is at least an order of magnitude greater than previously achieved for a 2-micron diode-pumped laser at room temperature.

Singh, Upendra N.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Joint Experimental and Computational Characterization of Sum-Frequency Generation between a Continuous Wave Laser and an Ultrafast Frequency Comb Laser for Tunable Laser Development

Ultrafast optical frequency combs allow for both high spectral and temporal resolution in molecular spectroscopy and have become a powerful tool in many areas of chemistry and physics. Ultrafast lasers and frequency combs generated from ultrafast mode-locked lasers often need to be converted to other wavelengths. Commonly used wavelength conversions are optical parametric oscillators, which require an external optical cavity, and supercontinuum generation combined with optical parametric amplifiers. Whether commercial or home-built, these systems are complex and costly. Here, we investigate an alternative, simple, and easy-to-implement approach to tunable frequency comb ultrafast lasers enabled by new continuous-wave laser technology. Sum-frequency generation between an Nd:YAG continuous-wave laser and a Yb:fiber femtosecond frequency comb in a beta-barium borate (BBO) crystal is explored. The resulting sum-frequency beam is a pulsed frequency comb with the same repetition rate as the Yb:fiber source. SNLO simulation software is used to simulate the results and provide benchmarks for designing future systems to achieve wavelength conversion and tunability in otherwise difficult-to-reach spectral regions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1995

Light Induced Microwave Oscillator

A novel oscillator that converts continuous light energy into stable and spectrally pure microwave signals is described. This Light Induced Microwave Oscillator (LIMO) consists of a pump laser and a feedback circuit including an intensity modulator, an optical fiber delay line, photodetector, amplifier, and a filter. A Quasi-linear theory is developed. Resulting expressions of parameters are given.

Microwave↗
DOE OSTI2023

Seeded stimulated X-ray emission at 5.9 keV

X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) provide intense pulses that can generate stimulated X-ray emission, a phenomenon that has been observed and studied in materials ranging from neon to copper. Two schemes have been employed: amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) and seeded stimulated emission (SSE), where a second color XFEL pulse provides the seed. Both phenomena are currently explored for coherent X-ray laser sources and spectroscopy. Here, we report measurements of ASE and SSE of the 5.9 keV Mn K α 1 fluorescence line from a 3.9 molar NaMnO 4 solution, pumped with 7 femtosecond FWHM XFEL pulses at 6.6 keV. We observed ASE at a pump pulse intensity of 1.7×10 19 W/cm 2 , consistent with earlier findings. We observed SSE at dramatically reduced pump pulse intensities down to 1.1×10 17 W/cm 2 . These intensities are well within the range of many existing XFEL instruments, which supports the experimental feasibility of SSE as a tool to generate coherent X-ray pulses, spectroscopic studies of transition metal complexes, and other applications.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
NASA NTRS1976

Dielectric breakdown induced by picosecond laser pulses

The damage thresholds of transparent optical materials were investigated. Single picosecond pulses at 1.06 microns, 0.53 microns and 0.35 microns were obtained from a mode locked Nd-YAG oscillator-amplifier-frequency multiplier system. The pulses were Gaussian in space and time and permitted the determination of breakdown thresholds with a reproducibility of 15%. It was shown that the breakdown thresholds are characteristic of the bulk material, which included nine alkali halides, five different laser host materials, KDP, quartz, sapphire and calcium fluoride. The extension of the damage data to the ultraviolet is significant, because some indication was obtained that two- and three-photon absorption processes begin to play a role in determining the threshold. Throughout the visible region of the spectrum the threshold is still an increasing function of frequency, indicating that avalanche ionization is the dominant factor in determining the breakdown threshold. This was confirmed by a detailed study of the damage morphology with a high resolution microscope just above the threshold. The influence of self focusing is discussed, and evidence for beam distortion below the power threshold for complete self focusing is presented, confirming the theory of Marburger.

Smith, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS1992

Analysis and development of dynamic selection of laser array elements

The transmission of large amounts of power in space by laser beam (diode lasers, in particular) requires an array of lasers to increase total power. Concentration of the beam requires some degree of coherence. Temporal coherence can be obtained by locking amplifiers to a master oscillator. However, spatial coherence is not so easily created or maintained. Many mechanical, thermal, and electrical factors oppose it continually. A very simple method is described for creating and maintaining a degree of spatial coherence by simply turning selected diodes ON or OFF. The degree of coherence can be chosen; the greater the coherence, the larger is the number of lasers required for a given power and the longer the lifetime of the array. An experiment for analyzing performance, verifying theory, and evaluating critical parameters is also proposed.

Williams, M. D.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Over 8 hours of continuous operation of a free-electron laser driven by a laser-plasma accelerator

Since the emergence of laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs), substantial work has been dedicated to using LPAs to drive free-electron lasers (FELs) for a broad range of applications. Despite recent breakthroughs, which have proven the fundamental feasibility of operating FELs with an LPA source, stable FEL operation over multiple hours without operator input had yet to be achieved. In this work, we report significant improvements to the stability of a hundred terawatt laser system, resulting in successful demonstration of reliable, long-term operation of an LPA-driven FEL in the self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) regime at 420 nm. The LPA source delivered 100 MeV electron beams at 1 Hz with high stability over more than 10 h, enabling over 8 h of continuous FEL operation without operator input. The acquired data were subsequently used to investigate correlations between the measured undulator radiation and parameters of the drive laser, plasma source, and electron beam. The revealed connections between LPA and FEL performance gave important additional insights into ways to further improve and stabilize the system, thus demonstrating the capability of our setup to serve as a powerful platform for future studies of LPA-driven FEL operation. The one-of-a-kind integration of multiple stabilization concepts onto the LPA facility discussed in this manuscript yielded significant accelerator and light source improvements (with residual correlations suggesting even more is possible), which will positively impact LPA applications at large.

Kohrell, Finn [Lawrence Berkeley National Laborato↗
DOE OSTI2020

Efficient Energy Funneling in Quasi‐2D Perovskites: From Light Emission to Lasing

Abstract Quasi‐2D Ruddlesden–Popper halide perovskites with a large exciton binding energy, self‐assembled quantum wells, and high quantum yield draw attention for optoelectronic device applications. Thin films of these quasi‐2D perovskites consist of a mixture of domains having different dimensionality, allowing energy funneling from lower‐dimensional nanosheets (high‐bandgap domains) to 3D nanocrystals (low‐bandgap domains). High‐quality quasi‐2D perovskite (PEA) 2 (FA) 3 Pb 4 Br 13 films are fabricated by solution engineering. Grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering measurements are conducted to study the crystal orientation, and transient absorption spectroscopy measurements are conducted to study the charge‐carrier dynamics. These data show that highly oriented 2D crystal films have a faster energy transfer from the high‐bandgap domains to the low‐bandgap domains (<0.5 ps) compared to the randomly oriented films. High‐performance light‐emitting diodes can be realized with these highly oriented 2D films. Finally, amplified spontaneous emission with a low threshold 4.16 µJ cm −2 is achieved and distributed feedback lasers are also demonstrated. These results show that it is important to control the morphology of the quasi‐2D films to achieve efficient energy transfer, which is a critical requirement for light‐emitting devices.

Lei, Lei↗
NASA NTRS2000

946 nm Diode Pumped Laser Produces 100mJ

An innovative approach to obtaining high energy at 946 nm has yielded 101 mJ of laser energy with an optical-to-optical slope efficiency of 24.5%. A single gain module resonator was evaluated, yielding a maximum output energy of 50 mJ. In order to obtain higher energy a second gain module was incorporated into the resonator. This innovative approach produced un-surprised output energy of 101 mJ. This is of utmost importance since it demonstrates that the laser output energy scales directly with the number of gain modules. Therefore, higher energies can be realized by simply increasing the number of gain modules within the laser oscillator. The laser resonator incorporates two gain modules into a folded "M-shaped" resonator, allowing a quadruple pass gain within each rod. Each of these modules consists of a diode (stack of 30 microlensed 100 Watt diode array bars, each with its own fiber lens) end-pumping a Nd:YAG laser rod. The diode output is collected by a lens duct, which focuses the energy into a 2 mm diameter flat to flat octagonal pump area of the laser crystal. Special coatings have been developed to mitigate energy storage problems, including parasitic lasing and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), and encourage the resonator to operate at the lower gain transition at 946 nm.

Axenson, Theresa J.↗