Palm-Top, High Power, Sub-Nanosecond Laser Source for Multi-Platform Spectroscopy and Laser Remote Sensing Optimization

A major difficulty with deploying solid-state laser transmitters on space flight instruments is their overall size and mass, where footprint and cost of deployment are at a premium. Any advancement in miniaturization, or improving the Energy/kg or Energy/cm^2 helps diffuse that issue. We have taken recent advancements of additive 3D printing technologies by creating opto-mechanics, and other photonic parts to create a new step in advancement. A custom pentagonal-shaped Neodymium: Yttrium Ortho-Vanadate gain crystal, (Nd: YVO4) to produce a new diode-pumped gain medium design for high peak power laser pulses in a very small package. The creation of a sub-nanosecond solid-state laser transmitter that is small enough to fit in your hand while producing optimum power outputs has been demonstrated. Optimization of the diode pump was made by testing varying collimators, focal lenses, and other optical devices to optimize the custom gain crystal that would be used. The research was done applying techniques learned when developing NASA's Dragonfly Mass Spectrometer (DraMS) laser. This research reached success, achieving all goals, reaching high peak power lasers, and sustained Q-switch operations. The reduction in size, while maintaining peak performance allows easy applications for use with planetary exploration and remote sensing.