Development and Demonstration of Australian First Working Sodium Guide Star Laser

Abstract

The Australian first working sodium guide star laser system has been designed and developed for various astronomical and space-related applications. A completely diode-pumped pulsed system was developed initially followed by a largely fiber-based continuous wave (CW) system operating at 589 nm achieved through a unique wavelength conversion scheme by combining 1342 and 1050 nm through a sum frequency generation process. For the CW system, single-mode laser beams at both 1342 and 1050 nm are achieved from fiber-based seed oscillators and fiber amplifiers. The output power of ~25 W at 1342 nm is achieved from a single frequency fiber Raman amplifier. Output power up to 70 W at 1050 nm is achieved from a Yb-doped fiber pre-amplifier followed by a Yb-doped fiber power amplifier. For the sum frequency generation process, optimum focusing parameters are evaluated and determined. The CW system has generated more than 20 W output power at 589 nm, a circularly polarised beam with a good beam quality, spectral linewidth ≤ 2 MHz, and the laser output locked on the sodium D2 line at 589.159 nm. The system has been successfully demonstrated at EOS Space Research Centre, Mt Stromlo, Canberra, and become the Australian first working sodium guide star laser system.