Multipulse Agile Laser Source for Real-Time Spark Spectrochemical Hazard Analysis in the Field

The objective of this proposal is to develop a small innovative compact laser capable of providing two or more pulses in short succession for optimizing the detection of hazardous materials in the field via real time spectrochemical techniques. Lasers suitable for dual pulse LIBS operation need to have good spatial beam quality and high pulse energy to provide enough energy to ionize the material under study, especially from relatively large standoff distances. While JMAR BrightLite diode pumped Nd:YAG lasers can currently meet all of the above criteria it is desirable to put the laser building blocks in a configuration suitable for adjustable dual pulse mode operation. In this proposal we propose a modification of our diode pumped Nd:YAG laser system by designing and testing a proof of concept module built around a a dual Pockels cell geometry. By individually adjusting the turn on and turn off times of the two Pockels cells on each side of a diode pumped Nd:YAG rod, the laser can be made to emit dual pulses with variable time delay between the pulses. By varying the timing of the Pockel cells relative to each other the relative amount of energy in each pulse can be varied.