Global wind measurements are critically needed to improve and extend NOAA weather forecasting that impacts U.S.
economic activity such as agriculture crop production, as well as hurricane forecasting, flooding, and FEMA disaster
planning.1 NASA and the 2007 National Research Council (NRC) Earth Science Decadal Study have also identified
global wind measurements as critical for global change research. NASA has conducted aircraft-based wind lidar
measurements using 2 um Ho:YLF lasers, which has shown that robust wind measurements can be made. Fibertek
designed and demonstrated a high-efficiency, 100 W average power continuous wave (CW) 1940 nm thulium (Tm)-
doped fiber laser bread-board system meeting all requirements for a NASA Earth Science spaceflight 2 μm Ho:YLF
pump laser. Our preliminary design shows that it is possible to package the laser for high-reliability spaceflight operation
in an ultra-compact ~ 2″x8″x14″ size and weight <8.5 lbs. A spaceflight 100 W polarization maintaining (PM) Tm laser
provides a path to space for a pulsed, Q-switched 2 μm Ho:YLF laser with ~ 30-80 mJ/pulse range at 100-200 Hz
repletion rates.
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