STTR Phase I: Optical Parametric Amplification of Backscatter Signal LIDAR for Enhanced Detection Sensitivity

这项小型企业技术转让（STTR）第一阶段研究项目的目标包括开发用于激光雷达探测的互相关光参量放大频率分辨光门（OPA XFROG），该技术需要评估最小可测量信号并应用于已知的非相干信号。该技术已经显示出令人信服的结果，然而，在将该光学技术集成到商用仪器之前，需要优化放大参数，如泵浦光脉冲能量和晶体厚度。第二个目标是设计配备光学放大装置的激光雷达仪器（发射器、接收器和后向散射光收集的优化）。利用激光雷达系统检测弱荧光和拉曼信号的能力对未来的遥感应用具有相当大的影响。不仅遥感距离将大大延长（预计至少增加两个数量级），而且光谱特征太弱而无法在背景噪声下识别的物种将在积极识别所需的信噪比之内。对化学和生物材料的遥感可以大大降低对军事人员和平民的威胁程度。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)Phase I research project objectives include the development of the Optical Parametric Amplification of Cross Correlation of Frequency- Resolved Optical Gating (OPA XFROG) for LIDAR detection that entails the assessment of the minimum measurable signal and the application to known incoherent signals. The technique has shown compelling results, however the parameters of amplification, such as pump pulse energy and crystal thickness, need to be optimized before this optical technique can be integrated into commercial instrumentation. A second objective is the design of the LIDAR instrument equipped with the optical amplification apparatus (transmitter, receiver, and optimization of the backscattered light collection). The ability to detect weak fluorescence and Raman signals using a LIDAR system has considerable impact on future remote sensing applications. Not only will remote sensing distances be significantly extended (a minimum gain of two orders of magnitude is expected) but species with spectral signatures that are too weak to be recognized against the background noise will be within the signal-to-noise ratio required for positive identification. Remote sensing of chemical and biological materials can substantially reduce the threat level to military personnel and civilians.