节点文献
空间应用的高重复频率小型化轻量化532 nm激光器
High-Repetition-Frequency Miniaturized Lightweight 532 nm Laser for Space Applications
【摘要】 空间激光系统对光源的尺寸、重量、功耗、可靠性等提出了很高的要求。介绍了一种空间应用的小型化轻量化的高重复频率窄脉宽全固态激光器。该激光器采用多单管半导体激光器作为泵浦源,通过端面泵浦的方式抽运YAG/Nd∶YAG/Cr∶YAG键合晶体,获得了重复频率为1 kHz、单脉冲能量为0.42 mJ、脉冲宽度为1.25 ns的1064 nm激光输出。通过对长度为10 mm的磷酸氧钛钾(KTP)晶体进行腔外倍频,获得了单脉冲能量为0.24 mJ、脉冲宽度为1.17 ns的532 nm激光输出,倍频效率为57.1%,水平和竖直方向上的光束质量因子分别为M_x~2=1.43和M_y~2=1.46,激光器头部尺寸为116 mm(长)×57 mm(宽)×22 mm(高),质量为386.7 g,可用于空间探测。
【Abstract】 Objective Photon-counting light detection and ranging(LiDAR) based on single-photon detection technology offers the advantages of high detection-signal integrity, high time resolution, high measurement accuracy, and high sensitivity, and is widely used in longdistance ranging and imaging fields. Compared with the conventional linear photoelectric detection technology, single-photon detection technology requires lower energy from the laser. However, it imposes new requirements for the laser: repetition frequencies in the kilohertz range to ensure sufficient sampling frequency, pulse widths in the nanosecond to ensure detection accuracy, high beam quality to ensure detection stability and sensitivity, low weight, and small volume. This paper focuses on the application of singlephoton detection technology in LiDAR and reports a 532-nm solid-state laser with a high repetition frequency and narrow pulse width.The laser is miniature and lightweight, which can satisfy the application requirements of spaceborne photon-counting LiDAR for space light sources.Methods To achieve a miniaturized and lightweight laser, six single-tube 808-nm chip on submount(COS) semiconductor lasers were used as the pump source. Using an incoherent space-beam combining system that combines a step-distributed heat sink with a polarization beam combining system, a highly integrated six single-tube pump coupling system was constructed to obtain a miniaturized and high-brightness pump source. COS packaging technology offers the advantages of high integration and reliability,which can integrate the pump laser diode(LD) with the laser path structure to achieve laser integration. By selecting Nd∶YAG as the gain medium and Cr∶YAG as the passive Q-switched crystal, the gain medium and passive Q-switched crystal were bonded to achieve an integrated resonator, which can not only miniaturize the laser structure but also form a short-cavity structure to achieve a narrowpulse-width output. The pumped LD output laser was collimated by the fast-and slow-axis collimator and then focused in the laser gain medium through the focusing mirror. Finally, potassium titanyl phosphate(KTP) crystal was used for external-cavity frequency doubling to output a 532-nm green light.Results and Discussions When the operating current of the LD is 6 A, the output power of the pump light is 4.4 W, the laser output repetition frequency is 1 kHz, and the single-pulse energies are 0.42 mJ and 0.24 mJ at wavelengths of 1064 nm and 532 nm,respectively. The frequency doubling efficiency is 57.1%. The obtained pulse waveforms are shown in Fig, 5, which shows a fundamental laser-beam pulse width of 1.25 ns and a frequency-doubled laser-beam pulse width of 1.17 ns. The beam qualities of the output laser are Mx2= 1.43 and My2= 1.46, as shown in Fig. 9. The size of the laser is 116 mm(length)×57 mm(width)×22 mm(height), and its mass is 386.7 g, as shown in Fig. 10.Conclusions Herein, a miniaturized and lightweight high-repetition-frequency narrow pulse width solid-state laser suitable for space exploration is introduced. YAG/Nd∶YAG/Cr∶YAG bonded crystal was pumped using multiple single-emitter diode lasers, and KTP crystal was used for external-cavity frequency doubling to achieve a 532 nm laser output with a single-pulse energy of 0.24 mJ and a pulse width of 1.17 ns at repetition frequency of 1 kHz. The beam quality factors are M_x~2= 1.43 and M_y~2= 1.46. The laser head measures 116 mm(length) ×57 mm(width) ×22 mm(height) and weighs 386.7 g, thus achieving the development goals of miniaturization and lightweightness, and can be used as the space light source for spaceborne photon-counting LiDARs.
【Key words】 space applications; single emitter combination; bonding crystal; miniaturization; lightweight;
- 【文献出处】 中国激光 ,Chinese Journal of Lasers , 编辑部邮箱 ,2025年01期
- 【分类号】TN248
- 【下载频次】212