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High energy LiDAR source for long distance, high resolution range imaging
Author(s) -
Jiang Yewen,
Yang Jiang,
Li Peilin,
Si Hanying,
Fu Xing,
Liu Qiang
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
microwave and optical technology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1098-2760
pISSN - 0895-2477
DOI - 10.1002/mop.32650
Subject(s) - lidar , laser , pulse repetition frequency , materials science , optics , laser beam quality , q switching , pulse width modulation , pulse (music) , range (aeronautics) , optoelectronics , power (physics) , detector , physics , radar , telecommunications , laser beams , quantum mechanics , computer science , composite material
High energy, high repetition rates laser with excellent beam quality are fundamental components for LiDAR. In particular, high pulse energy is benefit for long distance range imaging. Narrow pulse width and high repetition rates are benefit for high resolution and high refresh rate operation of LiDAR. However, increasing the laser repetition rates will cause the pulse energy decreasing and the pulse width expanding. In order to achieve the requirements at the same time, we propose a 885 nm laser diode end‐pumped RTP Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser. Pulse pumping scheme was used to avoid heat accumulation. With a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) system, 40.5 mJ, 7.5 ns of 1064 nm pulses were obtained at 2 kHz. The beam quality factor M 2 was measured as 1.60/1.51. Moreover, by frequency doubling with a LBO crystal, 16.4 mJ, 6.5 ns of 532 nm laser with the M 2 factor of 1.52 and 1.50 was obtained. The 1064 and 532 nm pulses are suitable for avalanche photodiode arrays LiDAR and streak tube imaging LiDAR, respectively. The laser system is shown to accomplish high stability from temperature of −10°C to 30°C and vibration frequency of 10 to 100 Hz.