Twenty years of Tm:Ho:YLF and LuLiF laser development for global wind and carbon dioxide active remote sensing

NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) has a long history of developing pulsed 2-μm lasers. From fundamental spectroscopy research, theoretical prediction of new materials, laser demonstration and engineering of lidar systems, it has been a very successful progress spanning around two decades. This article covers the 2-μm laser development from early research to current state-of-the-art instrumentation and projected future space missions. This applies to both global wind and carbon dioxide active remote sensing. A brief historical perspective of Tm:Ho work by early researchers is also given.