Bleachable Absorber Laser Amplifier and Defector (BALAD)

Abstract

A detailed feasibility and design study has been made on the wide- angle, low noise BALAD receiver (Bleachable Absorber Laser Amplifier and Detector). Expressions have been derived for the achievable field-of-view, maximum gain and other specifications in terms of the dimensions and the measurable properties of the laser and absorber gases. Virtually error free detection is assured for signal pulses >100 photons. A figure-of-merit has been measured for several absorber gases screened from the literature. BALAD receivers with 4000 resolution element field-of-view are feasible using SF6 with a CO2 amplifier at 10.0 micrometer and Xe with Xe at 3.5 micrometer. The use of the latter is recommended for the experimental test of the BALAD receiver. Two compact absorber configurations have been considered and will be further investigated. Application is to optical radar and to optical communications where signal direction is uncertain.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 14, 1972
Accession Number
AD0749543

Entities

People

  • Gordon Gould
  • James T. Latourrette

Organizations

  • New York University Tandon School of Engineering

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Coefficients
  • Air Force
  • Amplifiers
  • Classification
  • Communication Systems
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Electronic States
  • Engineering
  • Figure Of Merit
  • Frequency
  • Insertion Loss
  • Laser Amplifiers
  • Laser Radar
  • Lasers
  • Optical Communications
  • Optical Waveguides

Fields of Study

  • Engineering
  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy