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Peng B, Wu K, Yang Y, Wu J, Guo Z, Wang Y, Zheng Y, Lin X. Studying an off-axis optical bench for future gravity missions from the perspective of carrier-to-noise ratio. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:13751-13762. [PMID: 37157256 DOI: 10.1364/oe.485096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The inter-satellite laser ranging heterodyne interferometer is vital for future gravity missions to achieve high ranging accuracy. This paper proposes a novel off-axis optical bench design which integrates merits of the off-axis optical bench design of GRACE Follow-On mission and other on-axis designs. This design makes use of lens systems subtly to restrict the tilt-to-length coupling noise and takes advantage of the DWS feedback loop to maintain the transmitting beam and receiving beam anti-parallel. The critical parameters of the optical components are determined and the carrier-to-noise ratio for a single channel of the photoreceiver is calculated to be more than 100 dB-Hz for the high case. The off-axis optical bench design is a potential candidate for China's future gravity missions.
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Yang Y, Yamamoto K, Dovale Álvarez M, Wei D, Esteban Delgado JJ, Müller V, Jia J, Heinzel G. On-Axis Optical Bench for Laser Ranging Instruments in Future Gravity Missions. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22052070. [PMID: 35271216 PMCID: PMC8914982 DOI: 10.3390/s22052070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The laser ranging interferometer onboard the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On mission proved the feasibility of an interferometric sensor for inter-satellite length tracking with sub-nanometer precision, establishing an important milestone for space laser interferometry and the general expectation that future gravity missions will employ heterodyne laser interferometry for satellite-to-satellite ranging. In this paper, we present the design of an on-axis optical bench for next-generation laser ranging which enhances the received optical power and the transmit beam divergence, enabling longer interferometer arms and relaxing the optical power requirement of the laser assembly. All design functionalities and requirements are verified by means of computer simulations. A thermal analysis is carried out to investigate the robustness of the proposed optical bench to the temperature fluctuations found in orbit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichao Yang
- Max–Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert–Einstein–Institut) and Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; (Y.Y.); (K.Y.); (D.W.); (J.J.E.D.); (V.M.)
- Key Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China;
- School of Electronic, Electrical and Communication Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Kohei Yamamoto
- Max–Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert–Einstein–Institut) and Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; (Y.Y.); (K.Y.); (D.W.); (J.J.E.D.); (V.M.)
| | - Miguel Dovale Álvarez
- Max–Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert–Einstein–Institut) and Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; (Y.Y.); (K.Y.); (D.W.); (J.J.E.D.); (V.M.)
- Correspondence: (M.D.Á.); (G.H.)
| | - Daikang Wei
- Max–Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert–Einstein–Institut) and Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; (Y.Y.); (K.Y.); (D.W.); (J.J.E.D.); (V.M.)
| | - Juan José Esteban Delgado
- Max–Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert–Einstein–Institut) and Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; (Y.Y.); (K.Y.); (D.W.); (J.J.E.D.); (V.M.)
| | - Vitali Müller
- Max–Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert–Einstein–Institut) and Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; (Y.Y.); (K.Y.); (D.W.); (J.J.E.D.); (V.M.)
| | - Jianjun Jia
- Key Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China;
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Gerhard Heinzel
- Max–Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert–Einstein–Institut) and Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany; (Y.Y.); (K.Y.); (D.W.); (J.J.E.D.); (V.M.)
- Correspondence: (M.D.Á.); (G.H.)
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Feng Y, Lamour TP, Ostapenko H, McCracken RA, Mandel O, Weise D, Reid DT. Towards a space-qualified Kerr-lens mode-locked laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2021; 46:5429-5432. [PMID: 34724493 DOI: 10.1364/ol.439965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We report a 1.5-GHz Kerr-lens mode-locked (KLM) Yb:Y2O3 ring laser constructed by directly bonding the cavity components onto an aluminum baseplate. Stable unidirectional operation with an output power ≥10mW was obtained for pump-diode currents of 300-500 mA, corresponding to a total electrical power consumption of 1.5 W. After repetition rate stabilization, a comparison with a conventionally constructed identical laser showed a 50% reduction in phase noise. In free-running operation the bonded laser showed superior passive repetition rate stability. The bonding process follows an already proven integration approach in space-borne instrumentation, mapping a development pathway for KLM lasers in aerospace applications.
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