Long wave solid laser source with wide tuning range and ultra-fast wavelength switching realized by Aerospace Research Institute

In February 2023, under the support of the Instrument and Equipment Development Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Laser Engineering Technology Research Center of the Aerospace Information Innovation Institute realized 8.0-8.7 based on the acousto-optic deflector (AOD) tuning technology and optical parametric oscillation (OPO) technology μ Tunable ultra-fast wavelength switching of m long wave laser, with wavelength switching time better than 100 μ s. The number of wavelengths ≥ 70, and the spectral width of a single wavelength ≤ 30 nm. The laser can sweep frequency rapidly in the long wave band and has extremely high peak power, which will provide high-quality laser source for toxic gas telemetry and photoelectric countermeasures in the complex environment in China.

Optical parametric oscillation (OPO) is a nonlinear optical frequency conversion technology. With the improvement of the preparation technology of nonlinear infrared crystals, the generation of high peak power and high repetition rate long-wave laser based on OPO has become a hot spot in the field of laser technology. However, OPO technology usually realizes laser wavelength tuning based on temperature, crystal rotation, pump source wavelength adjustment, etc. The project team proposed to adjust the parameter optical angle and phase matching conditions based on the acoustooptic deflector, so as to realize the fast adjustment of the output wavelength. After 3 years, it has broken through 2 μ M laser source, infrared crystal and resonator mirror damage characterization, traveling-wave cavity tuning compensation and other key technologies have completed the technical verification of ultra-fast wavelength switching long-wave solid laser source with wide tuning range.

Later, the project team will carry out the development and application demonstration of engineering prototype in accordance with the established objectives of the instrument and equipment development project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

AOD driving frequency and output long-wave laser wavelength

Source: Aerospace Information Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences