Optically pumped submillimeter laser heterodyne receivers: astrophysical observations and recent technical developments

Author

Chin, Gordon

Author_Institution

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA

Volume

80

Issue

11

fYear

1992

fDate

11/1/1992 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1788

Lastpage

1799

Abstract

The use of optically pumped submillimeter lasers as a local oscillator source is discussed. The principle of operation of submillimeter lasers in heterodyne systems is examined, and a detailed description of an airborne laser receiver system is given as an example. Some ground-based and airborne laser heterodyne astrophysical observations are then reviewed. Advances in submillimeter technology, especially the miniaturization of the CW CO₂ pump laser, are discussed, and advances in submillimeter lasers designs are briefly addressed

Keywords

Schottky-barrier diodes; carbon compounds; gas lasers; microwave spectra; microwave spectrometers; mixers (circuits); optical pumping; radio receivers; radiotelescopes; submillimetre astronomical observations; submillimetre wave devices; CO₂ laser; CW CO₂ pump laser; THF; airborne laser receiver system; astrophysical observations; heterodyne receivers; heterodyne systems; laser heterodyne astrophysical observations; local oscillator source; miniaturization; operation; optical receivers; optically pumped submillimeter lasers; submillimeter technology; submm; technical developments; Astronomy; Laser excitation; NASA; Observatories; Optical mixing; Optical pumping; Optical receivers; Pump lasers; Space missions; Space technology;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Proceedings of the IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9219

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/5.175255

Filename

175255