Review of laser technology at M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory

The research discussed is that done on low-power CO2 lasers and their application, in particular in infrared radars and communications. Attention is also given to recent advances in laser technology that have a bearing on these systems. The compact infrared radar being developed for tactical airborne applications is described, noting that the system can operate in either of two modes. These are a search mode, which employs a wide-field-of-view line scan and CW Doppler detection, and a pulsed imaging mode, in which the x, y image plane scanners are activated to produce a narrow-field-of-view image at 15 frames per second. In discussing infrared communications, a laser is described in which the CdTe crystal is mounted directly in the waveguide structure. This makes possible much lower switching voltages than would be the case if the crystal were positioned outside the waveguide in the expanding portion of the beam. Also described is the high-repetition-rate mini-TEA laser designed for use in pollution-monitoring radar.