Abstract

Numerous coherent laser radar (CLR) applications exist in defense and commercial arenas for compact, high energy transmitter/receiver systems. The use of solid-state laser sources in the near- and mid-IR are of particular interest, as these lasers and laser amplifiers offer near-term promise of very efficient, lightweight CLR transmitters at relatively low cost. Building on previous work with Nd: YAG CLR technology at 1.06 μm wavelength,^1,2 we report here on the development of a engineered Nd: YAG transceiver having considerable operating flexibility, arbitrary optical pulse-forming capability, high pulse energy, and > 20 Hz pulse repetition rate.

© 1991 Optical Society of America