Demonstration of an iron fluorescence lidar operating at 372 nm wavelength using a newly-developed Nd:YAG laser
Bernd Kaifler, Christian Büdenbender, Peter Mahnke, Matthias Damm, Daniel Sauder, Natalie Kaifler, and Markus Rapp
Index: 10.1364/OL.42.002858
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Abstract
We report on the development of a pulsed neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser operating at a 1116 nm wavelength. Because the third harmonic is within a few gigahertz of the 372 nm absorption line of iron, this laser system represents an alternative to alexandrite lasers commonly used in iron fluorescence lidars. With our prototype, we achieved a 0.5 W at 372 nm wavelength and a 100 Hz pulse repetition frequency. As a proof of concept, we show iron density measurements, which have been acquired using the novel lidar transmitter.