Title :
The high output maximum efficiency resonator (HOMER) developed for long life, space-based altimetry
Author :
Coyle, D. Barry ; Stysley, Paul R.
Author_Institution :
NASA-GSFC, Greenbelt, MD
Abstract :
We report on the status of the high output maximum efficiency resonator (HOMER), a prototype space-flight Nd:YAG, diode pumped, unstable resonator. HOMER, the 3rd generation of this design based on the high efficiency laser transmitter, is a stand-alone oscillator that has achieved ~2 billion 10 ns q-switched pulses at 17-15 mJ. In this configuration HOMER achieves an excellent optical efficiency of ~16%. It is currently the lead candidate for the biomass monitoring mission (BioMM); a global vegetation instrument currently under design and pre-proposal at NASA-GSFC
Keywords :
aerospace instrumentation; cavity resonators; BioMM; HOMER; biomass monitoring mission; diode pumped resonator; global vegetation instrument; high output maximum efficiency resonator; laser transmitter; optical efficiency; q-switched pulses; space-based altimetry; space-flight Nd:YAG resonator; Altimetry; Biomedical optical imaging; Diodes; Optical design; Optical pulse generation; Optical resonators; Optical transmitters; Oscillators; Prototypes; Pump lasers;
Conference_Titel :
Aerospace Conference, 2006 IEEE
Conference_Location :
Big Sky, MT
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-9545-X
DOI :
10.1109/AERO.2006.1655900
