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At least 343 records · Page 19

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NASA NTRS1991

Computer Processing Of Tunable-Diode-Laser Spectra

Tunable-diode-laser spectrometer measuring transmission spectrum of gas operates under control of computer, which also processes measurement data. Measurements in three channels processed into spectra. Computer controls current supplied to tunable diode laser, stepping it through small increments of wavelength while processing spectral measurements at each step. Program includes library of routines for general manipulation and plotting of spectra, least-squares fitting of direct-transmission and harmonic-absorption spectra, and deconvolution for determination of laser linewidth and for removal of instrumental broadening of spectral lines.

May, Randy D.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Self-Injection Locking Of Diode Lasers

Simple optical coupling scheme locks array of gain-guided diode lasers into oscillation in single mode and with single-lobed output beam. Selective feedback from thin etalon self-injection-locks array into desired mode. One application of new scheme for pumping of neodymium: yttrium aluminum garnet lasers with diode-laser arrays.

Hemmati, H.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Stirling-Cycle Cooling For Tunable Diode Laser

Miniature Stirling-cycle cooler effective in continously cooling PbSnTe tunable diode laser to stable operating temperature near 80 K. Simplifies laboratory diode-laser spectroscopy and instruments for use aboard aircraft and balloons.

Durso, Santo S.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Integral bypass diodes in an amorphous silicon alloy photovoltaic module

Thin-film, tandem-junction, amorphous silicon (a-Si) photovoltaic modules were constructed in which a part of the a-Si alloy cell material is used to form bypass protection diodes. This integral design circumvents the need for incorporating external, conventional diodes, thus simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing module weight.

Hanak, J. J.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Fabrication of IrSi(3)/p-Si Schottky diodes by a molecular beam epitaxy technique

IrSi(3)/p-Si Schottky diodes have been fabricated by a molecular beam epitaxy technique at 630 C. Good surface morphology was observed for IrSi(3) layers grown at temperatures below 680 C, and an increasing tendency to form islands is observed in samples grown at higher temperatures. Good diode current-voltage characteristics were observed and Schottky barrier heights of 0.14-0.18 eV were determined by activation energy analysis and spectral response measurement.

Lin, T. L.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Single-frequency diode-pumped lasers for free-space optical communication

Recent advances in laser technology for intersatellite optical communication systems are reviewed and illustrated with graphs and diagrams. Topics addressed include (1) single-frequency diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers of monolithic ring configuration (yielding 368-384 mW output power with 1-W pumping), (2) injection chaining of up to 10 monolithic resonators to achieve redundancy and/or higher output power, (3) 2-kHz-linewidth 5-mW versions of (1) which are tunable over a 30-MHz range for use as local oscillators in coherent communication, (4) resonant external modulation and doubling or resonant phase modulation of diode-pumped lasers, and (5) wavelength multiplexing.

Kane, Thomas J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Oscillations up to 712 GHz in InAs/AlSb resonant-tunneling diodes

Oscillations have been obtained at frequencies from 100 to 712 GHz in InAs/AlSb double-barrier resonant-tunneling diodes at room temperature. The measured power density at 360 GHz was 90 W/sq cm, which is 50 times that generated by GaAs/AlAs diodes at essentially the same frequency. The oscillation at 712 GHz represents the highest frequency reported to date from a solid-state electronic oscillator at room temperature.

Brown, E. R.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Scalable diode array pumped Nd rod laser

Experiments were carried out on a five-array pump head which utilizes gold-coated reflective cones to couple the pump energy to Nd:YAG and Nd:YLF rod lasers, demonstrating high efficiency and uniform energy deposition. Because the cones function as optical diodes to light outside their acceptance angle (typically 10-15 deg), much of the diode energy not absorbed on the first pass can be returned to the rod.

Zenzie, H. H.↗

NASA NTRS1990

The effect of neutron irradiation on the properties of AlGaAs/GaAs laser diodes

The effects of neutron irradiation on several properties of both single and multiple stripe laser diodes have been examined. Prior to fast neutron irradiation, total light output as a function of laser current, threshold current, near-field pattern, far-field pattern, and laser output wavelength spectra were measured at room temperature. These measurements were then repeated at intermittent neutron fluence levels. It was observed that the threshold current increased with neutron fluence for all devices examined. In contrast, neutron irradiation had only an indirect effect on the remainder of the laser diode properties in that the higher currents required for operation after irradiation caused variations in these properties.

Barnes, C. E.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Initial evaluation of commercially available InGaAsP DFB laser diodes for use in high-speed digital fiber optic transceivers

NASA has been pursuing the development of high-speed fiber-optic transceivers for use in a number of space data system applications. Current efforts are directed toward a high-performance all-integrated-circuit transceiver operating up to the 3-5 Gb/s range. Details of the evaluation and selection of candidate high-speed optical sources to be used in the space-qualified high-performance transceiver are presented. Data on the performance of commercially available DFB (distributed feedback) lasers are presented, and their performance relative to each other and to their structural design with regard to their use in high-performance fiber-optic transceivers is discussed. The DFB lasers were obtained from seven commercial manufacturers. The data taken on each laser included threshold current, differential quantum efficiency, CW side mode suppression radio, wavelength temperature coefficient, threshold temperature coefficient, natural linewidth, and far field pattern. It was found that laser diodes with buried heterostructures and first-order gratings had, in general, the best CW operating characteristics. The modulated characteristics of the DFB laser diodes are emphasized. Modulated linewidth, modulated side mode suppression ratio, and frequency response are discussed.

Cook, Anthony L.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Two-Pass, Diode-Pumped Nd:YAG Slab Laser Head

Neodymium/yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) ring-laser head designed for compactness, simplicity, and increased efficiency for side pumping by diode lasers. Laser head includes two linear arrays of diode lasers, two fused-silica collimating rods, and Nd:YAG slab. Slab mounted on finned copper block, providing good thermal dissipation.

Coyle, D. Barry↗

NASA NTRS1992

Using silicon diodes for detecting the liquid-vapor interface in hydrogen

Tests were performed using commercially available silicon diode temperature sensors to detect the location of the liquid-vapor interface in hydrogen during ground test programs. Results show that by increasing the current into the sensor, silicon diodes can be used as liquid level point sensors. After cycling the sensors from liquid to vapor several times, it was found that with a 30 mA (milliamps) input current, the sensors respond within 2 seconds by measuring a large voltage difference when transitioning from liquid to vapor across the interface. Nearly instantaneous response resulted during a transition form vapor to liquid. Detailed here are test procedures, experimental results, and guidelines for applying this information to other test facilities.

Dempsey, Paula J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Diode - Pumped Nd:YAG Lidar for Airborne Cloud Measurements

This work is concerned with the experimental method used to separate scattering and to use it for the determination of cloud microphysical parameters. It is also the first airborne test of a lidar version related to the ATLID Program - ESA's scheduled spaceborne lidar. The already tested DLR microlidar was modified with the new diode-pumped laser and a faster data recording system was added. The system was used during the CLEOPATRA campaign in the DLR research aircraft Falcon 20 to measure cloud parameters. The diode pumped Nd:YAG laser we developed for the microlidar is a modification of the laser we introduced at the Lidar Congress at 'Laser 1991' in Munich. Various aspects of this work are discussed.

Mehnert, A.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A portable lidar using a diode-pumped YAG laser

A Mie lidar system is technically established and is used for monitoring air pollution, stratospheric and boundary layer aerosol distribution, plume dispersion, visibility, and the study of atmospheric structure and cloud physics. However, a lidar system is not widely used because of its cumbersome handling and unwieldy portability. Although the author developed a laser diode lidar system based on RM-CW technique, it has a limit of measurement distance. Here we report the development of an all solid Mie lidar system using a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser and a Si-APD detector. This was constructed as a prototype of a handy lidar system.

Takeuchi, N.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Diode-laser frequency stabilization based on the resonant Faraday effect

The authors present the results of a method for frequency stabilizing laser diodes based on the resonant Faraday effects. A Faraday cell in conjunction with a polarizer crossed with respect to the polarization of the laser diode comprises the intracavity frequency selective element. In this arrangement, a laser pull-in range of 9 A was measured, and the laser operated at a single frequency with a linewidth less than 6 MHz.

Wanninger, P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

One joule per Q-switched pulse diode-pumped laser

Q-switched 1-J output has been achieved from diode-pumped zig-zag Nd:YAG slabs in an oscillator-amplifier configuration. The oscillator was single transverse and longitudinal model. This laser set records for Q-switched energy per pulse, and for average power from a diode-pumped laser. The laser was constructed in a rugged configuration suitable for routine laboratory use.

Holder, Lonnie E.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A quasioptically stabilized resonant-tunneling-diode oscillator for the millimeter- and submillimeter-wave regions

A semiconfocal open-cavity resonator has been used to stabilize a resonant-tunneling-diode waveguide oscillator at frequencies near 100 GHz. The high quality factor of the open cavity resulted in a linewidth of approximately 10 kHz at 10 dB below the peak, which is about 100 times narrower than the linewidth of an unstabilized waveguide oscillator. This technique is well suited for resonant-tunneling-diode oscillators in the submillimeter-wave region.

Brown, Elliott R.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Theoretical model for frequency locking a diode laser with a Faraday cell

A new method was developed for frequency locking a diode lasers, called 'the Faraday anomalous dispersion optical transmitter (FADOT) laser locking', which is much simpler than other known locking schemes. The FADOT laser locking method uses commercial laser diodes with no antireflection coatings, an atomic Faraday cell with a single polarizer, and an output coupler to form a compound cavity. The FADOT method is vibration insensitive and exhibits minimal thermal expansion effects. The system has a frequency pull in the range of 443.2 GHz (9 A). The method has potential applications in optical communication, remote sensing, and pumping laser excited optical filters.

Wanninger, P.↗