Long Range LiDAR (LR-LiDAR)

To address this technology gap and NASA’s non-mechanical LiDAR beam steering need, Torrey Pines Logic, Inc (TPL) proposes developing a novel High-power Magneto-Optical beam Deflector HMOD. The principle of operation is to modulate the polarization rotation using a magneto-optic faraday polarization rotator with a wound electro-magnetic coil to modulate the magnetic field. The modulated linear polarization direction will be deflected in a binary fashion as the beam enters a birefringent prism depending on whether the Faraday Rotator is switched into the extraordinary or ordinary polarization state of the prism (Figure 1). TPL proposes to demonstrate the HMOD system in a multi spot scanning configuration collimated by a 5 cm diameter telescope as part of the Phase I effort.