High-energy, eyesafe transmitter for LADAR

The most widely used solid state laser technology is based on Nd-doped laser materials, providing output in the 1050-1060-nm wavelength region. Alternative laser materials can provide other wavelengths more suited for eyesafe LADAR, but systems using thesematerials have shown substantial limitations in either or both power output and efficiency. For focal-plane-array (FPA)-based LADAR systems in particular, the need to generate a combination of high energies and short pulses eliminates many solid statelasers from consideration. In the work proposed here, we take advantage of recent developments in solid state laser design, new laser materials and improved high-power semiconductor lasers to develop an efficient, compact, high-power laser system in the2050-2100-nm wavelength region. The wavelengths generated are eyesafe, fall in an atmospheric window and are readily detectable with existing FPA technology. The proposed laser design uses a minimal number of diodes to generate high-energy pulses,consistent with the desire for a compact and low-cost system, and the use of conduction cooling throughout leads to flexibility in thermal management.The laser to be developed in this proposed effort would have a unique combination of power output andwavelength and could open up new capabilities for materials processing systems, particularly for materials with a high water content. Another application of laser could be in the area of laser medicine, for surgical applications in tissue cutting,coagulation or welding. Finally, the laser can be also used as part of an industrial gas sensing system for detection of minute quantities of water vapor or carbon dioxide.