SodiumStar – High Power Guide Star Laser @ 589 nm
- Laser for guide star applications in adaptive optics systems
- More than 20 W output power
- Wavelength 589 nm (Sodium resonance)
- Single-frequency operation, linewidth 5 MHz
- Diode laser with Raman fiber amplifier and resonant SHG stage
- 2 W version available for laser cooling of Sodium
- CLEO / Laser Focus World Innovation Award: 2010 Honorable Mention
The SodiumStar system is a high-power “guide star” laser designed for adaptive optics control in ground-based telescopes. It is based on resonant frequency doubling of an infrared DFB diode laser with subsequent Raman fiber amplifier. More than 20 W are attained at the Sodium wavelength of 589 nm, with a spectral width of 5 MHz. The DL RFA SHG pro, a modified, sub MHz linewidth version with moderate power (2 W) is available for laser cooling experiments.
Technical Information
Technical Information
Schematic setup of TOPTICA’s SodiumStar guide star laser.
Output power of TOPTICA’s SodiumStar laser, as a function of fundamental (infrared) power. Resonant frequency conversion is achieved with an efficiency in excess of 75 %.
Specifications:
| Wavelength | 589 nm |
| Seed laser | DL DFB |
| Amplifier | Raman fiber amplifier |
| Doubling stage | SHG pro |
| Tuning | > 10 GHz |
| Operation | Single frequency |
| Linewidth | ˜ 5 MHz |
| Output power | > 20 W |
| Spatial mode | Near diffraction limited |
| Optical isolation | Included, 60 dB + 35 dB (before / after amplifier) |
| Beam steering | Included |
| Water cooling | Yes (for amplifier stage) |
| Operating voltage | 220 .. 240 V AC, 50 Hz |
| Power consumption | 1.3 kW max. |
Options & Related Products
Options & Related Products
- System for Sodium laser cooling (2 W, 1 MHz linewidth): DL RFA SHG pro
- Low-power frequency-converted diode laser: DL SHG pro
- Tunable deep-UV laser: TA / FA FHG pro
- Control and locking electronics: DigiLock 110, FALC 110, PID 110, PDD 110/dual
- Photonicals: Laboratory tools and accessories, e.g. Fabry-Perot Interferometers and Wavelength Meters, …
Applications
Applications
Guide Star laser in operation at the Very Large Telescope on Cerro Paranal, Chile. The laser beam is visible by Rayleigh scattering.
Adaptive optics systems correct wavefront aberrations (top row) caused by atmospheric distortions, rendering the images of stars point-like (bottom row). TOPTICA’s SodiumStar laser creates an “artificial star” in the mesosphere (approx. 100 km above the ground).
Application Note: Laser Guide Star
Download
Download
toptica_BR_frequency_converted_2009.pdf
100624_PR_ESO_TOPTICA_Contract.pdf
