Title: UV Lifetime Demonstrator
Presenting Author: Floyd Hovis
Organization: Fibertek, Inc

Abstract:
A long-lived UV laser is an enabling technology for a number of high-priority, space-based lidar instruments. These include a next generation cloud and aerosol lidar that incorporates a UV channel, a direct detection 3-D wind lidar, and an ozone DIAL system. In previous Phase I and Phase II SBIR funded work Fibertek developed techniques for increasing the survivability of components in high power UV lasers and demonstrated improved operational lifetimes. In this Phase III ESTO funded effort we are designing and building a TRL 6 demonstrator that will have increased output power and a space-qualifiable package that is mechanically robust and thermally-stable. For full space compatibility, thermal control will be through pure conductive cooling. Contamination control processes and optical coatings will be chosen that are compatible with lifetimes in excess of 1 billion shots. The demonstration laser will incorporate a diode-pumped, single-frequency, Nd:YAG master oscillator and three diode pumped amplifier stages capable of providing over 250mJ per pulse of 1064nm light at 150Hz. The 1064nm output will be frequency tripled to provide greater than 100mJ pulses of 355nm light. After completing the laser module build in earlier 2015 we will initiate a series of 532 nm and 355 nm lifetime tests that are intended to support a variety of potential space-based lidar systems. At the completion of the lifetime testing, vibration and/or TVAC testing will be performed to demonstrate that the laser design is at TRL 6.