Tunable waveguide CO2 laser local oscillators for spaceborne infrared heterodyne spectrometers
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
SEARCH · Engineering Papers
Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.
Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
This research resulted in the publication of two major papers. The major results include the development of improved crystal growth techniques for rare earth-doped LiYF4 crystals and the determination of laser-pumped laser characteristics of Tm:Ho:Y3Al5O12 crystals.
The ATLAS instrument is an advanced technology diode laser based absorption spectrometer designed specifically for stratospheric tracer studies. This technique was used in the acquisition of N2O tracer data sets on the Airborne Antarctic Ozone Experiment and the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition. These data sets have proved valuable for comparison with atmospheric models, as well as in assisting in the interpretation of the entire ensemble of chemical and meteorological data acquired on these two field studies. The N2O dynamical tracer data set analysis revealed several ramifications concerning the polar atmosphere: the N2O/NO(y) correlation, which is used as a tool to study denitrification in the polar vertex; the N2O Southern Hemisphere morphology, showing subsidence in the winter polar vortex; and the value of the N2O measurements in the interpretation of ClO, O3, and NO(y) measurements and of the derived dynamical tracer, potential vorticity. Field studies also led to improved characterization of the instrument and to improved accuracy.
The purpose of this research is to make precise, fully line-resolved measurements of molecular parameters that are necessary for the analysis of spectra obtained in far infrared field measurement programs. These measurements make it possible to accurately analyze the data from field measurements to obtain atmospheric concentration profiles of key trace gases involved in the ozone chemistry. The research objectives include: measurements of pressure broadening of molecular lines of OH, O2, O3, HCl, and H2O, their temperature dependence, and, when possible, the pressure-induced frequency shifts of the lines; measurements of line positions of radical species, such as HO2.
Simultaneous in situ measurements of stratospheric CH4, (C-13)H4, N2O, OC(O-18), pressure, and temperature have been made from Palestine, Texas (32 deg N) in September 1988 with the JPL Balloon-borne Laser In Situ Sensor. Measurements of CH4 and N2O in the altitude range 30-35 km agree well with other measurements, except for an anomalously high value for the N2O at 31 km. Measurements of CH4 support earlier observations of fold in the vertical profile. A ratio for stratospheric (C-13)H4/CH4 of 0.0105 +/- 0.0010 implies an enrichment of delta(C-13) = -45 +/- 92 parts per thousand over the PDB value, in agreement with previous measurements in the troposphere. A large mixing ratio of 1.9 +/- 0.2 ppmv for OC(O-18) is measured, corresponding to an enrichment of delta(O-18) = 280 +/- 50 parts per thousand for the (O-18) isotopic species over the SMOW value.
A recently developed AOTF operating in the visible, 0.4-0.8 micron bandpass is presently compared with other spectrometer designs, with a view to the advantages it may uniquely offer for prospective NASA missions. Since spectral identification is accomplished by this system through the scanning of a few spectral bands, data storage requirements for spectral image analysis can be significantly reduced. Attention is given to spectral and imaging capabilities and their applicability to defense, remote sensing, and industrial uses.
Considerations of performance criteria in image quality, spectral response, programmability, and field-of-view, are presently discussed for a NASA AOTF system. Experimental data obtained with an AOTF imaging spectrometer breadboard are presented. Attention is given to the identification of Nd(3+) contained in bastanite rock by means of this imaging spectrometer.
The absolute intensity and the collision broadened half-widths of the 951.7393/cm line, which belongs to the nu7-fundamental band (C-12)2H4, at 152, 202, 252, and 294 K are presented using He, H2, and N2 as broadeners. The temperature dependence of the half-width is determined for line broadening by the planetary atmospheric gases He, H2, and N2.
Amplified spontaneous emission, ASE, generated by a Ti:Al2O3 laser amplifier has been measured as a function of pump energy, and thus gain, using the atomic absorption of rubidium, Rb, gas at 0.780 micron. By tuning the Ti:Al2O3 laser, the Rb cell could selectively absorb the narrow spectral bandwidth laser radiation while transmitting the wide spectral bandwidth ASE. Transmission of laser amplifier pulses through a Rb absorption cell, measured at various temperatures, thus allows the measurement of the weak ASE in the vicinity of the strong laser pulse. A model for the transmission of Rb as a function of temperature and wavelength has been developed. The measured transmissions are in good agreement with the transmission model predictions.
A constant current source has been designed which makes use of on chip electrically erasable memory to adjust the magnitude and temperature coefficient of the output current. The current source includes a voltage reference based on the difference between enhancement and depletion transistor threshold voltages. Accuracy is +/- 3% over the full range of power supply, process variations, and temperature using eight bits for tuning.
During 10/31/91 - 3/31/92, the following summarizes are major accomplishments: (1) numerical modeling of the four mirror astigmatically compensated, Z-fold cavity was performed; and (2) the simulation revealed several design parameters to be used for the construction of a femtosecond forsterite laser.
The strongest absorption lines are in the v sub 2 vibrational band around 1400/cm; several near-coincident line pairs in this region provide max linestrengths of 1.2 x 10 exp -20 sq. cm/(molecule*cm). High Frequency wavelength modulation coupled with sweep integration were used to minimize noise and maintain spectral discrimination. Reduced pressure sampling was performed using supersonic nozzle and an aerodynamic flow cell to minimize residence time and wall losses of radicals. The astigmatic mirror design provides pathlengths up to 200 m in volume of 3 liters with minimal optical interference fringes; longer pathlengths are possible. The detection limit depends on pathlength and minimum fractional absorptions.
A feedback control system compensator of the PID type is provided, wherein the proportional component of the compensator is replaced with a tilted component having a transfer function s to the power of -1/n. The resulting transfer function of the entire compensator more closely approximates an optimal transfer function, thereby achieving improved feedback controller. Further, as compared to conventional PID compensators, the TID compensator allows for simpler tuning, better disturbance rejection ratio, and smaller effects of plant parameter variations on closed loop response.
A novel method for exciting the two-photon, 2p3 3p 3P left arrow 2p4 3P atomic oxygen transition is reported. The transition to the upper state is achieved through the combined absorption of photons from the second and third Stokes order pulses of an ArF-excimer laser that is wavelength-shifted by the use of deuterium Raman cell. All three transitions from the ground electronic state of the oxygen atom lie within the tuning range of the Raman-shifted ArF laser. The available pulse energy from this laser configuration is comparable to that of commercially available Nd:YAG-pumped dye laser systems operated at 226 nm.
As part of the Canadian Northern Wetlands Study (NOWES) measurements of methane flux were made at the Kinosheo Lake tower site for a 1-month period during the 1990 summer intensive. The measurements were made with a diode-laser-based methane sensor using the eddy correlation technique. Measurements of the methane fluxes were made at two levels, 5 or 18 m. Approximately 900 half-hour average methane flux measurements were obtained. Weak temporal and diurnal trends were observed in the data. Fluxes averaged over the study period showed an overall methane emission of 16 mg CH4 m(exp -2)/d with a daytime average of 20 mg CH4 m(exp -2)/d and a nighttime average of 9 mg CH4 m(exp -2)/d. The effect of emission footprint was evident in the data. A strong relationship between the daily average methane flux and wet bog temperature at 20-cm depth was observed.
The principle goal of our research was to understand the formation of free radicals in comets. To do this we compared laboratory results with cometary observations in attempt to make sure that the cometary observations agree with what is known about the photochemistry of the proposed parent molecule. Initially we concentrated on the CS emission in an effort to show the parent of this molecule was CS2, consistent with cometary observations of the photochemical lifetime. We then started to look into the problem of the C2 formation in comets. We set out to see if we could measure all of the nascent distributions of the C2 products in the hope that they would be a characteristic signature of the formation process.
Recently developed technologies have been uniquely integrated to produce optical filters with unprecedented performance. The precise design and fabrication of narrow-passband and high-efficiency optical filters with a central frequency of 532 nm are reported. Measurements with these filters demonstrate a performance that accurately mirrors the design specification, with one filter having a passband of 70 pm and an efficiency greater than 90% and the second filter having a passband of 7 pm and an efficiency greater than 80%.
This report describes an investigation intended to determine the practical short wavelength limit for Fabry-Perot etalons operating in the far ultraviolet. This portion of the investigation includes a design study of multilayer dielectric reflector coatings that would be required by such an etalon. Results of the study indicate that etalons may be made to operate at wavelengths as short as 121 nm.