Progress and Plans for a US Laser System for the LISA Mission

Numata, Kenji ; Yu, Anthony ; Jiao, Hua ; Merritt, Scott ; Micalizzi, Frankie ; Fahey, Molly ; Camp, Jordan ; Krainak, Michael

关键词: LASER APPLICATIONS;    MASS;    LISA (OBSERVATORY);   

RP-ID  :  GSFC-E-DAA-TN58436

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: NASA Technical Reports Server

【 摘 要 】

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is developing a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) laser transmitter for the ESA-led Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. Taking advantage of our space laser experience and the emerging telecom laser technology, we are developing a full laser system for the LISA mission. Our research effort has included both master oscillator (MO) and power amplifier (PA) developments, and their environmental testing and reliability for space flight. Our current baseline for the MO is a low-mass, compact micro NPRO (m-NPRO) laser. The amplifier uses a robust mechanical design based on fiber components. We have performed laser system noise tests by amplitude- and frequency-stabilizing the PA output. We will describe our progress and plans to demonstrate a TRL 6 laser system, which is an essential step toward qualifying lasers for space applications, by 2021.