Ultra-Compact Carbon Dioxide Laser For Chemical Sensor

Previously, CO2 laser transmitters were designed for sensors with ranges on the order of 10-15 km, applicable primarily to fixed site defense. These lasers with their high output energies were relatively large and heavy. Important new scenarios have emerged that place severe restrictions on sensor size and weight, including manportable, unmanned aerial vehicle, and agile ground vehicle deployments. For these applications, an ultra-compact CO2 laser is required. Tradeoffs between various CO2 laser types will be performed, including present and extrapolated characteristics, multiple pulse detection statistics, and wavelength shifting techniques.