Pulsed Laser for Topographic Measurements

Cygnus Laser proposes to develop an efficient, short pulse, scalable, diode bar side pumped, solid state laser ideal for topographic measurements from airborne or space based platforms. This laser will achieve the high gain required to obtain short Q-switched pulses by using a side pumped slab geometry, with multi-bounce extraction. Fast risetime electro-optic Q-switching will be used with a very short cavity to minimize the pulsewidth. A novel resonator will be employed that will result in single transverse mode operation with a large spot size in a very short resonator. This innovation will have a significant impact on many pulsed laser applications where wall plug efficiency, beam quality and stability are of utmost importance.