background lrrp strategy and synergies objectives and deliverables recent accomplishments

Upendra Singh, LaRC 1

NASA’s Laser Risk Reduction Program-

Accomplishments and Update

Upendra N. Singh William S. Heaps Chief Technologist, SEC, NASA LaRC NASA/[email protected]


• Background• LRRP Strategy and Synergies• Objectives and deliverables• Recent Accomplishments• Future Plans • Conclusions


Laser Risk Reduction Program Origins

• Earth Science Independent Laser Review Board empanelled in 2000 in response to multiple laser instrument mission issues

• Panel reviewed past and present NASA ESE laser remote sensing missions:

– CALIPSO, ICESat, LITE, SPARCLE (NMP/EO-2), VCL

• Panel report included 11 recommendations, the most key being:– NASA should identify and intensively develop critical fundamental technologies

applicable to multiple missions and investigate formation of interagency coalition to assure supply of diode pumped lasers

– NASA should create a “Laser Research Super Center” managed by NASA HQ and drawing from laser research teams at the field centers

– An interagency technology alliance should be formed for the development of space-based active optical sensors and associated critical enabling technologies (especially transmitter-class lasers)

• NASA Administrator mandated formulation of an Agency-level lidar technology development plan

– Laser Risk Reduction Program (LRRP) was established, based on recommendations from joint LaRC/GSFC strategy team

– Program initiated in FY02– Co-funded by ESTO and Code R Enabling Concepts and Technologies (ECT) program


• Develop lidar technology for NASA’s future measurements

• Assemble in-house NASA team with end-to-end lidar capability (theory to hardware to validation)

• Collaborate with industry, academia, and government

• Validate technology to reduce risk of space-based lidar missions before the proposal process

• Transfer technology to industry


Laser based instruments are applicable to a wide range of Earth Science, Aerospace Technology, Space Science, and Space Flight Enterprise needs

Risk in lidar missions can be significantly reduced by progress in a few key technologies

Modest NASA investment towards proposed strategy will have significant impact on future space-based active remote sensing missions

Strategic alliance with other government organizations, industry, and academia for leveraging and accelerating advancement of key technologies


Presentation to

Daniel S. Goldin, NASA Administrator

By

Ghassem R. Asrar Samuel L. VenneriAssociate Administrator Associate Administrator

Earth Science Enterprise Aerospace Technology Enterprise

Jeremiah F. Creedon Alphonso V. DiazDirector, NASA LaRC Director, NASA GSFC

Upendra N. Singh and William S. Heaps Co-Leaders

Integrated NASA Lidar Systems Strategy Team (INLSST)

June 18, 2001

Preliminary Draft – For Agency Use Only


Turbulence detection Wind shear detectionWake vortices

Automatic Rendezvous and Docking for ISSWind profiling for shuttle launch and landing

Mars Lander Guidance/Control Mars Atmospheric Sensing

Earth Science

Aerospace Technology

Space Science

Clouds/Aerosols

Tropospheric Winds

Ozone

Carbon Dioxide

Biomass Burning

Water Vapor

Surface Mapping

Laser Altimetry

Oceanography

Space Flight

Lidar is a Multi-Enterprise Need


Key Priority Measurements for Earth Science Enterprise– Cloud/Aerosols and Radiative Forcing– Tropospheric Winds/River Flow– Tropospheric Ozone– Carbon Cycle (CO2, Biomass)– Surface Mapping– Oceanography

Earth Sciences Application Foci


Backscatter Lidar• Cloud • Aerosol

Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL)• Ozone• Carbon DioxideDoppler Lidar

• Wind Fields• River Flow

Altimetry Lidar• Ice Sheet Mass Balance • Vegetation Canopy• Land Topography

fDoppler

Frequency

TransmitPulse

Return

Velocity = (/2) fDoppler

TArrival

Time

TransmitPulse

Return

Range = (c/2)TArrival

TArrivalTime

TransmitPulse

Return

Density = IS/IT

Range = (c/2)Tarrival

IT

IS

off on

TransmitPulses

Returns

Concentration = log[ I(on)/ I(off)]

Wavelength

Lidar Techniques and Measurements


PulsedLaser Development

Atmosphere:Lower Upper

DIAL: CO2

X3

OPO

DIAL: Ozone

2 Lasers, 4 Techniques, 6 Priority Measurements

0.30-0.32 micron

Backscatter Lidar: Aerosols/Clouds

X2Surface Mapping, Oceanography

X2

0.355 micron

Altimetry:

1.06 micron

2.05 micron

1 MICRON

Doppler Lidar: Wind

Backscatter Lidar:

Aerosols/Clouds

Coherent

Direct

0.532 micron

2 MICRON

Key Technologies in Common

Laser Diodes Laser Induced DamageFrequency ControlElectrical Efficiency Heat Removal Ruggedness LifetimeContamination Tolerance

Earth Sciences Application Foci

2.05 micron

Coherent Ocean/RiverSurface Currents

CoherentWinds

NoncoherentWinds


2 µ Test Bed

1 µ Test BedKnowledge

Laser Induced Damage

Now: 15 J/cm2 for 5 nsec

Goal: 60 J/cm2 for 5 nsec

Frequency Control

Now: < .25 pm

Goal: < .005 pm

Lifetime

Now: 850? M shots

Goal: 2 G shots

Heat Removal

Now: 110 Watts

Goal: 300 Watts

Contamination Tolerance

Now: 50, A/10

Goal: Better Tolerance

Electrical Efficiency

Now: 3-4%

Goal: 6%

Ruggedness

Now: 1 min @ 10G

Goal: 1 min @ 15 G

Laser Transmitter Testbeds


Establishing Space-hardened Laser

Transmitter Test Beds (1µm laser at GSFC & 2µm at LaRC)

Development and Qualifications of Space-based Laser Diode Arrays ( 808nm diodes at GSFC & 792nm at LaRC)

Advancing Wavelength Conversion Technology for Space-based Lidars ( Low Energy/HRT at GSFC & High Energy/LRT at LaRC)


• Deliverables

•Space-hardened 1- and 2-micron Laser Transmitters (Efficient, Conductively-cooled)

•Space-hardened Conductively Cooled Laser Diode Arrays

•Non-linear Optical Parametric and Harmonic Generation for Ozone, Chemical and Biological Species, and Water Vapor Detection

NASA Laser Risk Reduction Program

Funding ($M):

FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07 FY 08

OAT 5 5 5 5 5 5

OES 4 4 4 4 4 4

Total 9 9 9 9 9 9


Laser Risk Reduction Management Model

ProjectManager(Kavaya)

LaRC

LaRC Co-PI(U. Singh)

GSFC

Project Manager(Cazeau)

GSFC Co-PI(W. Heaps)

NASA HQ

OESCode Y

OATCode R


LRRP Description

• Pro-actively targets deficiencies in laser technology for focused development and risk mitigation– Technology readiness overestimated in past due to extrapolation

from prior heritage– Flight lasers are still at the “build-to-order” R&D stage

• Primary focus is on high-power (i.e., transmitter-class) lasers for space-based remote sensing applications– High-performance Nd:YAG systems (1 µm)– Emerging holmium- and thulium-doped lasant materials (2 µm)– Nonlinear generation schemes based on 1- and 2- µ m pump

sources• Harmonic generation• Optical parametric amplification/oscillation (OPA/OPO)

• Small investments in ancillary enhancing and enabling technologies which offer potential to reduce demand for laser power (detectors, innovative receiver approaches)


• 2-micron laser transmitter– Demonstrate technologies leading to a conductively cooled, diode-pumped 2-micron

laser suitable for space-based lidar application– Address major laser development issues: High energy, high efficiency, laser-induced

optical and thermal damage, system thermal management• High-power diode laser pump arrays

– Develop, scale, and qualify long-lived, space-compatible laser diode arrays with current vendors

– Evaluate currently available laser diode arrays for performance, life and configuration required for future space-based laser missions

– Establish Characterization and Lifetime Test Facility to address laser diode issues:• Limited reliability and lifetime• Lack of statistical and analytical bases for performance and lifetime prediction

– Conceive advanced laser diode array architectures with improved efficiency and thermal characteristics

• Nonlinear optics research for space-based ozone DIAL– Spectrally narrow, tunable, robust UV laser architectures– Develop long-lived, efficient, space-compatible, nonlinear optical

materials/techniques• Receiver technologies

– Develop integrated heterodyne receiver to demonstrate 3-dB improvement of coherent lidar system efficiency with 80% reduction of required local oscillator power

– Develop improved quantum efficiency photon-counting detectors at 2 micron• Laser physics and advanced materials research

– Develop line tunable diode-pumped Nd laser system for pumping nonlinear UV generation schemes

– Develop narrowband, long pulse, low average power pump laser for wavelength control of lidar systems

LRRP Application Driven Elements


NASA Laser Risk Reduction Program

2003 2007 Missions

Backscatter Lidar• Cloud • Aerosol

Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL)

• Carbon Dioxide• Ozone

Doppler Lidar• Wind Fields• River Flow

Laser Altimeter• Ice Sheet Mass and

Topography • Vegetation Canopy• Land Topography• Ocean Mixed Layer

Depth• S/C-S/C Ranging

WavelengthConversion

1-Micron Laser

2-Micron Laser

Efficiency(Green=30%UV=20%)

SHG/THG

OPO/OPA

SpaceQualification

Heat Removal(All Conductive)

Contamination

OpticsDamage(2G/3 yr)

Lifetime(2G Shots)

PumpDiodes

Coupling

Packaging

FailureMechanisms

Availability(COTS)

LifetimeEffects

Performance

Beam Quality

LaserDesign

Efficiency(4% WPE)

Modeling

Laser Physics

Energy (1 J)/Power (10-100W)

Materials

Beam Quality/Spectrum

CompactHeritage derived from both Earth and Solar System apps.


Lidar Technologies

Scanner

Receiver

AutoAlign

Pointing

Telescope

Detector

Y S

CO2 Profiling X

Global Winds X

Ozone Profiling X

Chem/Bio Sensing X

Landing/Rendezvous X

Water Vapor Profiling X

Laser Transmitter Technologies Measurements

XRanging/Altimetry X

Clouds/Aerosols X

Customers

Enabling Technology Elements

X

2-Micron LidarTransmitter

FrequencyController

Amplifier

IRWavelength

Converter

UVWavelengthConverter

1-Micron LidarTransmitter

X

X

X


Laser Risk Reduction Program

A. Pump Laser Diodes Risk Reduction

– LaRC to advance diodes in 790 nm wavelength region

– Lifetime and characterization testing

– Radiation testing performed at GSFC

B. Conductively cooled laser

– 2-micron partially conductively-cooled laser is precursor to fully conductively-cooled space-capable design

C. Contamination

– GSFC Contamination protocols will be made available to support the contamination & lifetime study and tests at LaRC

D. Non-Linear Material & OPO Modeling

– LaRC to develop high peak power OPO’s

– Non-linear materials to be included in diode radiation test

E. Design and Packaging

– Packaging methodology for space flight-capable laser

A

E

D

C

B


Laser Resonator

PowerEfficiency

LaserDiodes

AvailabilityLife/Quality


PowerEfficiency

ReceiverSubsystem

EfficiencySize/Mass

Material Res & Quantum Mech.

Modeling

Laser Amplifier

Rad & DamageTests Multi-Joule

12Hz2-micron

Transmitter Laser

Define Reqmts& Innovations

TestPerf./Reliability

Test/Charact.Facility

Life TestQuality

CContamination

& Lifetime Study and Tests

Laser Oscillator

A Contamination& HandlingProtocols

QualificationProcedures

Global Winds& CO2

GlobalOzoneHighly-Efficient

Heterodyne Receiver

Define Reqmts& Innovations

Low-NoiseDetector for CO2 Meas.

CharacterizationFacilities

LightweightScanningTelescope

Dual PumpParametricOscillator

Lab DemoHigh Power

Conversion to UV

Normal ModeIntra-cavity

SHG Pump Laser

Efficient conversion to

UV

Damage/Rad/Life Tests Packaging

100mJ @ 100Hz 308nm & 320nm

2% efficiency

FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07

A Rad Th/Vac Tests

DNon-linear material & OPO modeling

BConductively-Cooled

Laser Head

EPackaging

(Flight-HardenedSystem)

A AdvanceLaser Diode

Technologies

Laser Risk Reduction ProgramLaRC Component


Laser Resonator

Design

1.5J, 10Hz Fully conductively-cooled

2-micron laser

FY 02 FY 03 FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07

Partially conductively-cooled

laser head

Laser Risk Reduction Program2-micron technology roadmap

Partially conductively-cooled osc

Partially conductively-cooled amp

1.5J, 2HzPartially conductively-

cooled 2-micron laser

Fully conductively-cooled

laser head

Fully conductively-cooled osc

Fully conductively-cooled amp

DesignLessons

DesignLessons

Validation tool

DesignLessons

Space-capable design


2-Micron Pulsed Transmitter Laser

Objective: Develop a high energy, high efficiency, conductively-cooled solid-state 2-micron laser for space lidar applications.

Application: Measurement of global CO2 and winds from LEO.

Accomplishments

• Successful demonstration of Ho,Tm:LuLF laser system with 1050 mJ Q-switched output energy. This was accomplished by one power oscillator and two amplifiers operating in double pulse mode. Single-pulse output is 0.6 J.

• Notional space-based wind profiling missions require pulse energies from 1 to 5 J, depending on the scenario

• Milestone achieved with 2-Hz PRF; >12 Hz desired for LEO

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

30 40 50 60 70 80

Output Pulse Energy (mJ)

2nd Amplifier Current (A)

115 mJ input pulse energy to 1st amplifier (single pulse)185 mJ input pulse energy to 1st amplifier (double pulse)630 mJ input pulse energy to 2nd amplifier (double pulse)

1 J


0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0 1 2 3 4 5 6Dissipated Heat (W)

RelativeTemp Rise (

oC)

Cu/Beo Package

Rth = 1.88 oC/W

Diamond Package

Rth = 1.56 oC/W

Pump Laser Diode Advancement and Validation

Objective

Develop state-of-the-art characterization and life-time test facility and address 792-nm laser diode issues:

• Limited reliability and lifetime• Lack of statistical and analytical bases for performance and lifetime prediction• Limited commercial availability

Develop advanced laser diode array (LDA) architectures with improved efficiency and thermal characteristics

Accomplishments

Fabricated and tested an advanced LDA package utilizing diamond substrate and heatsink. Demonstrated 17% reduction in thermal resistance relative to the standardBeO/Cu package that can translate to increased lifetime and reliability.

Thermal Image of Diamond LDA

Diamond Package cools 36% faster


• Reached 150 mJ (record) of UV at 320 nm with 10% (record) 1µm-UV efficiency; reached 115 mJ at 308 nm

• Developed innovative UV generation architectures

• Critical to trop ozone profile measurement from space

LRRP Recent Accomplishments


• Current partnerships and collaborations

Laser Risk Reduction Program- Collaborations

• Industry

• University

• Government

NASA Laser/Lidar Risk Reduction ProgramLaRCGSFC

JPL•Tunable LO Laser

•Integrated Receiver

DOE•UV Laser

DOD•Laser Diodes, •EO Scanner

Coherent, CEO,•Laser Diodes

ITT•UV Laser

Sci. Material•Laser Crystals

Swales, UMD•Cond. Cool. Pkg.

Boston College•Quan. Mech. Model.

VLOC, CVI•Optics

•CoatingsNorthrop Gruman

•Solid State Lasers

Schafer,Plasma Processes

•Lightweight Telescopes

JHU, APL•Non Linear Op


•National Consortium for Excellence in Active Optical Remote Sensing (AORS)

•Purpose: To establish and maintain critical national expertise needed to ensure long term progress in AORS; mount compelling case for new USG initiative in FY05-06 timeframe

– Participants:• A multi-agency entity (e.g., NASA, NOAA, IPO, DoD, DoE, FAA,

Homeland)• Engages members of academia and industry

– Approach:• Leverages complementary activities ongoing in each of those

organizations• Primary interchange through open discussions

Proposal for a Multi-Agency AORS Consortium


Chem-Bio Det

Aerosols

Wind

Aviation Safety

Multi-Agency Active Optical

Remote Sensing

Consortium

Industry

Home- land

NASA

NOAA

IPO

DoE

DoD

Academia

Clouds/Aerosols

Wind

Trop. Chemistry

Carbon dioxide

Biomass

Water Vapor

Land/Ice Topography

Wake Vortices

Ocean Mixed Layer

Solar System Science

Wind

Water Vapor

CO2

Aerosols

Wind

Aerosols

Chem-Bio Detection

Target Recognition

Tactical Imaging

Water Vapor

Chem- Bio Detection

Clouds and Aerosols

Wind

Humidity

Aerosols

FAA

Chem-Bio Detection

Aviation Safety

Wake Vortices

Turbulence

Wind Shear

Proposed Consortium Partners and Measurement NeedsNSF


Executive Council

Steering Committee

Wind

• NOAA

• NASA

• IPO

• DOD

• Homeland

Chem-Bio

• NASA

• DoE

• DOD

• Homeland

• FAA

CO2/O3

• NOAA

• NASA

• EPA

• NSF

Wake Vortices

• FAA

• NASA

• DOD

Water Vapor

• NOAA

• NASA

• IPO

• DOE

• EPA

Clouds/ Aerosols• NOAA

• NASA

• IPO

• DOD

• Homeland

Aviation Safety

• NASA

• FAA

• DOD

• Homeland

Ranging

• NASA

• USGS

• DOD

• Homeland

Working Groups

Consortium Structure


DETECTOR

RECEIVER

TELESCOPE

SCANNER

Auto-AlignmentPOINTING

AORSSystem DemonstrationPackaging & Hardening

Flight Validation

Advanced AORS Technology Elements

UV Visible Near-IR Infrared 2-D

Heterodyne Direct Etalon

Meter-Class Deployable

Rotating Telescope HOE/DOE Liquid Crystal Solid State E-O

LASER

1 micron Laser Testbed

2 micron Laser Testbed

Wavelength Conversion

Laser Diode Pump

Space Hardening

Packaging

Sensors E-O Steerer Wavefront Corrector

Embeded Star Tracker Integrated INS


Summary

• Developing AORS technology supports NASA’s Vision and Mission and enables a key “building block”

• A focused technology effort will enable the promise of AORS by closing critical remaining gaps in capability

• AORS will address key high resolution measurement needs within Codes Y and S and support other national needs


Backup Charts


Technology Roadmap: 2-micron & UV Sources

Laser Resonator

PowerEfficiency

LaserDiodes

AvailabilityLife/Quality


PowerEfficiency

ReceiverSubsystem

EfficiencySize/Mass

Material Res & Quantum Mech.

Modeling

Laser Amplifier

Rad & DamageTests Multi-Joule

12 Hz2-Micron

Transmitter Laser

Define Reqmts.& Innovations

TestPerf./Reliability

Test/Charact.Facility

Life TestQuality

Contamination& Lifetime

Study and Tests

Laser Oscillator

Contamination& HandlingProtocols

QualificationProcedures

Global Winds& CO2

GlobalOzoneMeas.

Highly-EfficientHeterodyne

Receiver

Define Reqmts

& Innovations

Low-NoiseDetector for CO2 Meas.

Characterization

Facilities LightweightScanningTelescope

Dual PumpParametricOscillator

Lab DemoHigh Power

Conversion to UV

Normal ModeIntra-cavitySHG Pump

Laser

Efficient, High EConver to UV

Damage/Rad/Life Tests

Packaging500 mJ X 10 Hz 308nm &320 nm

2% Efficiency

Rad Th/Vac Tests

Non-linear Material

Res. & OPO Modeling

Conductively-Cooled

Laser Head

Packaging (Flight-Hardened

System)

AdvanceLaser Diode

Technologies


• Developed diode laser characterization facility• Diagnostics to understand failure modes of solid state lasers

• Enables active wind & CO2 measurement from space

Power and Polarization

Pulse Width

Wavelength and Linewidth

Beam Profile and Divergence

Optical Spectrum Analyzer

Power Meter

Integrating Sphere

Laser Diode

ThermalInterface

LD Characterization LD Lifetime Test

Current, Voltage, Temp, and PRF

Near FieldEmitters Image

Laser DiodeThermalProfile

Power and Polarization

Pulse Width

Wavelength and Linewidth

Beam Profile and Divergence

Optical Spectrum Analyzer

Power Meter

Integrating Sphere

Laser Diode

ThermalInterface

LD Characterization LD Lifetime Test

Current, Voltage, Temp, and PRF

Near FieldEmitters Image

Laser DiodeThermalProfile



0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0 1 2 3 4 5 6Dissipated Heat (W)

RelativeTemp Rise (

oC)

Cu/Beo Package

Rth = 1.88 oC/W

Diamond Package

Rth = 1.56 oC/W

792 nm Diamond Package LDA

Diamond Package dissipates excess heat more efficiently than standard BeO/Cu package resulting in increased lifetime.

Thermal resistance of diamond package is 17% lower than BeO/Cu package

Pulsewidth 0.1 – 1.0 msec Current 80 ARep Rate 10 HzOp Temp 15oC



0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

41.00 41.50 42.00 42.50 43.00 43.50 44.00 44.50 45.00

Time (sec)

Relative Temperature (

oC)

1.43 sec

0.92 sec

Diamond Package

BeO/Cu Package

Diamond Package cools 36% faster

Thermal Characteristics of Diamond LDA

• Enables all lidar measurements

background lrrp strategy and synergies objectives and deliverables recent accomplishments

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