100-watt CO/sub 2/ Laser Radar Transmitter

Under the NASA-sponsored LAWS (Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder) program, it is essential that laser radar transmitter operate in single mode for wind measurements. In this digest we report the results from our experimental investigation of a high-power, injection-seeded single-mode C02 laser under various operating conditions. Tolerance of frequency mismatch between the injection laser and TE laser was determined over a wide range of injection intensity. Heterodyne measurements indicated a low chirp over the 4-μsec laser pulses. Laser beam quality was measured. Laser line selection was achieved by using a lens/grating arrangement. An optimum injection-seeding technique using an unstable resonator was demonstrated for reliable high-power, low-chirp, single-mode laser operation at 9-11 μm.