High-Energy, Eye-Safe Lidar for Long-Range, High-Resolution Aerosol Detection

We have shown in recent laboratory experiments that the fortuitous nonlinear properties of potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP), exploited in innovative optical pararnetric oscillator (OPO) designs, can provide an eyesafe laser source that is unusually simple, compact, efficient and reliable. In addition, this laser design can produce high-energy pulses (0.1-1 J), short-duration pulses (<10 ns) and output in a good atmospheric transmission window (1500-1600 mm), all features that are important for the aerosol and cloud detection application, which we are addressing here. In this proposal we describe the recent experiments that support these claims, a plan for further laser development and a plan for subsequent field verification tests using a prototype lidar system that would be constructed during the Phase I project. In the proposed effort we would investigate means for improving/optimizing the intracavity OPO (IOPO) design that has recently been tested in our laboratory through a combination of experimental and computer-modeling work. In addition, we would explore the potential of available KTP isomorphs as alternative OPO media, construct a breadboard laser for field tests and carry out some aerosol detection tests at the University of South Florida (USF).