Development of a compact gas imaging sensor employing a cw fiber-amp-pumped PPLN OPO

Summary form only given. Backscatter absorption gas imaging (BAGI) is a laser technique for real-time video visualization of gas plumes. A scene is illuminated with IR laser radiation as it is imaged by an IR camera. Gases absorbing at the laser wavelength become visible as they attenuate the laser backscatter. We describe the development of a BAGI instrument that is sufficiently portable for use by a walking operator. A compact and electrically efficient format was achieved by developing a miniature PPLN OPO pumped by a fiber amplifier. This effort extends earlier work in which a Nd:YAG-pumped OPO was used in a vehicle-borne imager.