{"project":{"acronym":"","projectId":16811,"title":"High Energy Single Frequency Yb:YAG Crystalline Fiber Waveguide Master Oscillator Power Amplifier","primaryTaxonomyNodes":[{"taxonomyNodeId":10745,"taxonomyRootId":8816,"parentNodeId":10740,"level":3,"code":"TX08.1.5","title":"Lasers","definition":"Passive laser technologies, such as laser heterodyne radiometry, can involve low-power elements such as distributive feedback (DFB) lasers; active laser systems that pass through the atmosphere to make a measurement, such as light detecting and ranging (LIDAR) require higher powered laser elements.","exampleTechnologies":"Pulsed lasers, and the electro-optical components that support them like fibers, gratings, crystals, laser diodes, electro-optical modulators, nanolasers","hasChildren":false,"hasInteriorContent":true}],"startTrl":2,"currentTrl":4,"endTrl":4,"benefits":"The proposal is directed towards the construction of a micro-pulsed laser for NASA's Lidar Surface Topography (LIST) mission to globally map the topography of the Earth's solid surface with 5 m spatial resolution and 10 cm vertical precision, as well as the height of overlying covers of vegetation, water, snow, and ice. As pointed out by the LIST study findings, the instrument required to meet the LIST objectives far exceeds those of existing space laser altimeter technologies. Onyx Optics' true crystal fiber technology allows achieving the LIST laser source goals but it also represents a proof-of-principle for a whole family of crystal fiber lasers with different dopants than the presently proposed Yb:YAG that operate at 1.6 um (Er:YAG), at 2 um (Tm:YAG and Ho:YAG) or at 940 nm or 1064 nm (Nd:YAG) and frequency converted to 450 – 500 nm, all with close to diffraction limited beam quality and high pulse energies. These will become superior compact diode pumped sources for a number of NASA missions listed in the solicitation topics.
The proposed pulsed crystal fiber technology at various wavelengths is just as applicable as components for Defense lidar as for NASA. It represents a breakthrough capability for diode pumped solid state lasers that also has medical surgical applications in the 2 um region. The outstanding features of high efficiency, high beam quality and compactness translate into lower cost devices that also will meet great interest in the R&D community of universities and National laboratories. Onyx Optics would sell complete laser systems for R&D use as well as crystal fiber components for researchers to develop their own designs and applications. The high efficiency of the proposed laser systems would result in less energy consumption and thereby, at least in a small way, will save electric energy.","description":"The overall objective is to demonstrate the concept of Yb:YAG crystalline fiber MOPA laser and investigation the technical feasibility toward 50 mJ single frequency MOPA system in the Phase-II research. Onyx Optics crystalline fiber waveguides are made from true rare-earth doped YAG crystals with Adhesive-Free Bond (AFB®) technology. Compared with silica or phosphate glasses, the YAG crystalline fiber waveguides have the following advantages: (i) YAG crystal has at least one order of magnitude lower Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) gain coefficient than silica or phosphate glasses (10-15 to 10-12 vs 10-11 m/W), which directly leads to the SBS free power being at least one order of magnitude higher than the glass fibers; (ii) YAG crystal has much higher thermal conductivity than glass fibers (10.7 vs 1.38 W/m degree C). Therefore, much shorter fiber length that is only about one tenth of the glass fiber can be used for the same pumping conditions and the SBS threshold can be further increased; (iii) Due to the shortening in the fiber length, straight fiber can be practically used for high power amplification. Therefore, large single mode area (LSMA) can be more easily achieved. Considering the high pulse energy requirement in a future LIST mission, only large mode area (LMA) Yb:YAG fibers with core size >40 mm will be fabricated and investigated in the Phase-I research. The fibers will be double clad to increase the pumping power and efficiency, while maintaining near diffraction limit laser beam quality.","startYear":2013,"startMonth":5,"endYear":2013,"endMonth":11,"statusDescription":"Completed","principalInvestigators":[{"contactId":499070,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Xiaodong","lastName":"Mu","fullName":"Xiaodong Mu","fullNameInverted":"Mu, Xiaodong","primaryEmail":"xmu@onyxoptics.com","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programDirectors":[{"contactId":206378,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jason","lastName":"Kessler","fullName":"Jason L Kessler","fullNameInverted":"Kessler, Jason L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jason.l.kessler@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programExecutives":[{"contactId":215154,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Jennifer","lastName":"Gustetic","fullName":"Jennifer L Gustetic","fullNameInverted":"Gustetic, Jennifer L","middleInitial":"L","primaryEmail":"jennifer.l.gustetic@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"programManagers":[{"contactId":62051,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Carlos","lastName":"Torrez","fullName":"Carlos Torrez","fullNameInverted":"Torrez, Carlos","primaryEmail":"carlos.torrez@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"projectManagers":[{"contactId":506297,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Tony","lastName":"Yu","fullName":"Tony Yu","fullNameInverted":"Yu, Tony","primaryEmail":"Anthony.W.Yu@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false},{"contactId":461333,"canUserEdit":false,"firstName":"Theresa","lastName":"Stanley","fullName":"Theresa M Stanley","fullNameInverted":"Stanley, Theresa M","middleInitial":"M","primaryEmail":"theresa.m.stanley@nasa.gov","publicEmail":true,"nacontact":false}],"website":"","libraryItems":[{"caption":"High energy single frequency Yb:YAG crystalline fiber waveguide master oscillator power amplifier","file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":296216,"fileName":"SBIR_2012_1_BC_S1.01-9160","fileSize":107398,"objectId":292744,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"104.9 KB"},"files":[{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":296216,"fileName":"SBIR_2012_1_BC_S1.01-9160","fileSize":107398,"objectId":292744,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":889,"code":"LIBRARY_ITEMS","description":"Library Items","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"objectTypeId":889,"fileSizeString":"104.9 KB"}],"id":292744,"title":"Project Image","description":"High energy single frequency Yb:YAG crystalline fiber waveguide master oscillator power amplifier","libraryItemTypeId":1095,"projectId":16811,"primary":true,"publishedDateString":"","contentType":{"lkuCodeId":1095,"code":"IMAGE","description":"Image","lkuCodeTypeId":341,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"LIBRARY_ITEM_TYPE","description":"Library Item Type"}}}],"transitions":[{"transitionId":65219,"projectId":16811,"transitionDate":"2013-11-01","path":"Closed Out","closeoutDocuments":[{"title":"Final Summary Chart","file":{"fileExtension":"pdf","fileId":305452,"fileName":"SBIR_2012_1_FSC_S1.01-9160","fileSize":23466,"objectId":65219,"objectType":{"lkuCodeId":1841,"code":"TRANSITION_FILES","description":"Transition Files","lkuCodeTypeId":182,"lkuCodeType":{"codeType":"OBJECT_TYPE","description":"Object Type"}},"fileSizeString":"22.9 KB"},"transitionId":65219,"fileId":305452}],"infoText":"Closed out","infoTextExtra":"","dateText":"November 2013"}],"primaryImage":{"file":{"fileExtension":"jpg","fileId":296216,"fileSizeString":"0 Byte"},"id":292744,"description":"High energy single frequency Yb:YAG crystalline fiber waveguide master oscillator power amplifier","projectId":16811,"publishedDateString":""},"responsibleMd":{"acronym":"STMD","canUserEdit":false,"city":"","external":false,"linkCount":0,"organizationId":4875,"organizationName":"Space Technology Mission Directorate","organizationType":"NASA_Mission_Directorate","naorganization":false,"organizationTypePretty":"NASA Mission Directorate"},"program":{"acronym":"SBIR/STTR","active":true,"description":"
The NASA SBIR and STTR programs fund the research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that fulfill NASA needs as described in the annual Solicitations and have significant potential for successful commercialization. If you are a small business concern (SBC) with 500 or fewer employees or a non-profit RI such as a university or a research laboratory with ties to an SBC, then NASA encourages you to learn more about the SBIR and STTR programs as a potential source of seed funding for the development of your innovations.
The SBIR and STTR programs have 3 phases:
The SBIR and STTR Phase I contracts last for 6 months with a maximum funding of $125,000, and Phase II contracts last for 24 months with a maximum funding of $750,000 - $1.5 million.
Opportunity for Continued Technology Development Post-Phase II:
The NASA SBIR/STTR Program currently has in place two initiatives for supporting its small business partners past the basic Phase I and Phase II elements of the program that emphasize opportunities for commercialization. Specifically, the NASA SBIR/STTR Program has the Phase II Enhancement (Phase II-E) and Phase II eXpanded (Phase II-X) contract options.
Please review the links below to obtain more information on the SBIR/STTR programs.
Provides an overview of the SBIR and STTR programs as implemented by NASA
Provides access to the annual SBIR/STTR Solicitations containing detailed information on the program eligibility requirements, proposal instructions and research topics and subtopics
Schedule and links for the SBIR/STTR solicitations and selection announcements
Federal and non-Federal sources of assistance for small business
Search our complete archive of awarded project abstracts to learn about what NASA has funded
Still have questions? Visit the program FAQs
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