SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION

PROJECT SUMMARY

Proposal Number:

08.10-2000

Project Title:

50 MJ-200 HZ 2 MICRON LIDAR TRANSMITTER USING NOVEL COOLING METHODS FOR IMPROVED SYSTEM EFFICIENCY

Technical Abstract:

Innovative and efficient closed-cycle cooling techniques will be implemented in the design of a diode-pumped 50 mJ-200 Hz 2 micron lidar transmitter with greater than 2% overall prime power efficiency. Cooling the laser medium will allow a given laser pulse energy to be achieved with reduced pump power. As a consequence, the required number of pump diodes is reduced, leading to a more compact and less massive laser design. The prime power budget is also reduced provided heat removal is performed efficiently. Coherent Technologies, Inc. (CTI) has recently conceptualized novel approaches to the development of efficient 2 micron lasers, and proposes to extend these concepts to develop a 10 W average power laser while improving the overall system efficiency by incorporating novel refrigerant mechanisms in the laser pump module design. Key features of the design are described in the proposal. During Phase I, CTI will make detailed model calculations of laser performance and cooling system efficiency at various operating temperatures, in order to establish a baseline laser design for the development of an efficient lidar transmitter during Phase II. _

Potential Commercial Applications:

Efficient high power lasers will find uses as transmitters in lidar systems and as free-standing units. Lidar applications (ground-based and airborne wind mapping, remote hard target imaging, etc.) exist for reduced eye hazard, high energy, high efficiency laser sources. The proposed laser will also be well suited for medical and industrial applications. _

Name and Address of Offeror:

Coherent Technologies, Inc. P.O. Box 7488, Boulder, CO 80406