A new guide star laser using optimized injection mode-locking

Jesper Munch; Thomas P. Rutten; Nikita Simakov; Murray Hamilton; Céline d'Orgeville; Peter J. Veitch

doi:10.1117/12.791011

7 July 2008 A new guide star laser using optimized injection mode-locking

Jesper Munch, Thomas P. Rutten, Nikita Simakov, Murray Hamilton, Céline d'Orgeville, Peter J. Veitch

Proceedings Volume 7015, Adaptive Optics Systems; 70150K (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.791011
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

We describe a new, improved approach for sodium guide-star lasers for the correction of atmospheric aberrations in telescopes, which satisfies all current requirements for advanced pulse burst waveforms. It makes use of sum frequency generation (SFG) of two pulsed, Q-switched, injection mode-locked Nd:YAG lasers, resulting in a macro-micro pulse-burst output, optimized in power and bandwidth to maximize the fluorescence from the high altitude sodium layer. The approach is robust and power scalable and satisfies the requirements for Multi Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) for current and future telescopes, including extremely large ground telescopes (ELTs). It is also adaptable for advanced design options. Here we describe the approach in detail, the results from critical design verification experiments, the current status and plans for further work required to demonstrate a complete sodium guide-star laser.

Citation Download Citation

Jesper Munch, Thomas P. Rutten, Nikita Simakov, Murray Hamilton, Céline d'Orgeville, and Peter J. Veitch "A new guide star laser using optimized injection mode-locking", Proc. SPIE 7015, Adaptive Optics Systems, 70150K (7 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.791011

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