SBIR Phase I: Micro Pulse Lidar for Water Vapor Profiling

9860955 该小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目解决了对可靠，低成本，高分辨率大气水蒸气监测的需求。 利用差分吸收激光雷达（DIAL）技术，研究了一个每脉冲50微焦耳、10千赫的光学参量振荡器（OPO）对水汽进行剖面测量。 这种OPO，泵浦532纳米（nm）的辐射，将使用一种新的非线性材料-周期性极化锂钽氧化物（PPLT）。 使用PPLT是因为其在紫外线中的高透明度。 这被认为是首次研究PPLT OPO的532 nm和355 nm泵浦。 将在532 nm和355 nm处测量光折变对OPO性能和光束质量的影响，晶体工作温度在100至350摄氏度之间。 这项研究的结果，预计将是一个实验验证的拨号发射机设计。 这项研究的商业应用包括分子成像和光学活检。 需要在400和700 nm之间工作的高重复率、低脉冲能量激光器（通过用355 nm泵浦PPLT OPO来实现）作为分子成像中荧光团的激发源，以及光学活检中荧光返回特征的激发源。 预计这些商业市场的大批量生产将显著降低DIAL变送器的单位成本。

9860955 This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the need for reliable, low cost, high resolution monitoring of atmospheric water vapor. A 50-microjoule per pulse, 10-kilohertz optical parametric oscillator (OPO) will be investigated to profile water vapor using the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique. This OPO, pumped with 532-nanometer (nm) radiation, will use a new nonlinear material - periodically poled lithium tantalum oxide (PPLT). PPLT is used because of its high transparency in the ultraviolet . This is thought to be the first investigation of 532 nm and 355 nm pumping of PPLT OPOs. Photorefractive effects on OPO performance and beam quality will be measured at 532 nm and 355 nm for crystal operating temperatures between 100 and 350 degrees Celsius. The result of this research is expected to be an experimentally verified DIAL transmitter design. Commercial applications of this research include molecular imaging and optical biopsies. High repetition rate, low-pulse energy lasers operating between 400 and 700 nm (achieved by pumping a PPLT OPO with 355 nm) are needed as excitation sources for fluorophores, in molecular imaging, and for fluorescence return signatures, in optical biopsies. High volume production for these commercial markets is expected to lower the per unit cost of DIAL transmitters significantly.