Abstract
Using a 10-W average power sum-frequency laser, we have generated resonant fluorescence beacons in the mesospheric sodium layer and are currently evaluating them for use as an artificial guide star for atmospheric compensation using adaptive optics. Two flashlamp-pumped Nd:YAG lasers operating at 1.064 and 1.319 μm are mixed in a lithium triborate crystal to produce 589-nm light at 840-Hz. The laser emits 60-μs mode-locked pulse trains at 11-14 ml per pulse and is tuned to the sodium resonance transition with intracavity etalons.
© 1992 Optical Society of America
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