Abstract

We have recently demonstrated the first working coherent laser radar (CLR) using solid-state Tm,Ho:YAG lasers operating at the eyesafe wavelength of 2.09 μm.¹ The system has demonstrated accurate velocity and range measuring capability during preliminary field tests. Results to date include horizontal atmospheric wind measurements to 30 km, vertical atmospheric aerosol returns to 4 km, near-horizontal cloud returns to 100 km, and hard target (mountainside) returns from 145 km. All these returns were obtained with a transmitted pulse energy at 2.09 μm of only ~ 20 mJ. The long range cloud and mountainside returns indicate very high atmospheric transmission at the 2.09 μm wavelength Using diode lasers to pump Tm:YAG laser crystals, we have also recently demonstrated the feasibility for developing very compact, rugged, efficient, and long-lived 2 μm CLR systems.² These very encouraging early results suggest that many remote sensing applications could benefit by using 2 μm CLR systems.

© 1991 Optical Society of America