Form 9.B Project Summary

Chron:

971112

Proposal

Number:

14.03-6000

Project Title:

Ultrabright Laser Diode for Lidar Wind

Measurements

Technical Abstract (Limit 200 words)

Solid-state lasers of Tm:Ho:YLF are being

investigated for remote detection of atmospheric

turbulence on aircraft and at airports. These lasers

are most efficiently pumped by 791 nm laser diodes,

but the two current types of laser diodes are either

efficient but unreliable or reliable but inefficient.

The proposed new laser diode will eliminate serious

operational limitations that plague the two

presently-available types (AlGaAs which exhibits

facet degradation at high power levels, and

InGaAsP which has low efficiency). By utilizing an

InGaP guide layer (which does not exhibit facet

degradation) and an AlGaAs cladding layer (which

is in a region of the laser where the optical field is

almost zero) the proposed laser diodes will have a

combined reliability and efficiency not currently

possible. The proposed program involves design,

fabrication, and test of such a 791 nm

InGaP/AlGaAs laser diode. It is anticipated that

this laser will exhibit no facet degradation at peak

output power levels of 250W. This exceeds present

laser diode output power by over a factor of 2. With

the successful demonstration of this laser diode,

NASA will be able to demonstrate a reliable and

efficient lidar system for remote atmospheric

turbulence detection.

Potential Commercial Applications (Limit 200 words)

Reliable Ho:Tm:YLF lidar systems are urgently

needed for atmospheric windshear and microburst

detection on commercial and civilian aircraft and at

airports. Medical applications for Ho:Tm:YLF

lasers abound because of the strong absorption of

tissue at 2.1 mm. Other commercial applications for

high power, reliable 791 nm laser diodes include

welding, cutting, marking, and materials processing.

Name and Address of Principal Investigator (Name,

Organization Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip)

Kurt J. Linden, Ph.D.

Spire Corporation

One Patriots Park

Bedford , MA 01730-2396

Name and Address of Offeror (Firm Name, Mail Address,

City/State/Zip)

Everett S. McGinley

Spire Corporation

One Patriots Park

Bedford , MA 01730-2396