Vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers for sodium guidestar applications and improvement of current guidestar systems

Shawn Hackett; Alexander R. Albrecht; Zhou Yang; Jeffrey G. Cederberg; Mansoor Sheik-Bahae; Robert Johnson; Jack Drummond

doi:10.1117/12.2216853

10 March 2016 Vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers for sodium guidestar applications and improvement of current guidestar systems

Shawn Hackett, Alexander R. Albrecht, Zhou Yang, Jeffrey G. Cederberg, Mansoor Sheik-Bahae, Robert Johnson, Jack Drummond

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9734, Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) VI; 97340Y (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2216853
Event: SPIE LASE, 2016, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

To date, three types of laser sources have been used to excite mesospheric sodium atoms to use as a sodium guidestar for adaptive optics (AO). All these sources have inherent challenges and a possible fourth source is to utilize a frequencydoubled Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VECSEL). Such a VECSEL presents output efficiency above 20% with power in excess of 20 W. Modelling is also presented to validate the efficacy of developing VECSEL guidestar systems for use with current guidestar systems or as a stand-alone guidestar. The model agrees with the data collected with the 3.5 m telescope and narrowband laser guidestar at Starfire Optical Range.

Citation Download Citation

Shawn Hackett, Alexander R. Albrecht, Zhou Yang, Jeffrey G. Cederberg, Mansoor Sheik-Bahae, Robert Johnson, and Jack Drummond "Vertical external cavity surface emitting lasers for sodium guidestar applications and improvement of current guidestar systems", Proc. SPIE 9734, Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VECSELs) VI, 97340Y (10 March 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2216853

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