https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2015-02577-5
Regular Article
Space-based application of the CAN laser to LIDAR and orbital debris remediation
1 IZEST, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau, France
2 Centre de Physique Théorique, École Polytechnique, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France
3 RIKEN, 2-1, Hirosawa, Wako 351-0198, Japan
4 Advanced Concepts Team, European Space Agency, PO Box 299, 2200AG Noordwijk, The Netherlands
5 Current address: Centre Collégial de Transfert de Technologie Optech, 1111 Lapierre St., Montreal QC, H8N 2J4, Canada
a e-mail: mark.quinn@polytechnique.edu
Received: 30 August 2015
Revised: 31 August 2015
Published online: 26 October 2015
Development of pulsed lasers for space-based science missions entail many additional challenges compared to terrestrial experiments. For systems requiring short pulses ≪1 ns with energies >100 mJ and fast repetition rates >10 kHz there are currently few if no laser architectures capable of operating with high electrical efficiency >20% and have good system stability. The emergence of a mulit-channel fiber-based Coherent-Amplifying-Network or CAN laser potentially enables such capability for space based missions. Here in this article we present an analysis of two such missions scaling up in pulse energy from ≈100 mJ for a supercontinuum LIDAR application utilising atmospheric filamentation to the higher energy demands needed for space debris remediation requiring ≈10 J pulses. This scalability of the CAN laser provides pathways for development of the core science and technology where many new novel space applications can be made possible.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2015
