High energy, frequency stabilized three-wavelength lasers in space for ACDL on AEMS

A high energy, frequency stabilized three-wavelength laser was developed for spaceborne aerosol and Carbon Detection Lidar (ACDL) on Atmospheric Environment Monitoring Satellite (AEMS). The laser utilized fiber-bulk hybrid amplifier and cascaded OPO/OPA/SHG for the first time in space. Pulse energy of 45mJ, 185mJ and 135mJ for 1572nm,1064nm and 532nm respectively, 20Hz repetition rate(double pulse with interval 200us), as well as frequency stability better than 0.41MHz(rms) and linewidth of 23MHz for 1572nm, were simultaneously emitted from the laser. The laser continuously operating in orbit more than 15 months has been validated. To the best of our knowledge, there are the highest output pulse energy, the largest number of wavelengths, excellent long-term frequency stability and narrower linewidth from the laser system for lidar applications in space.