Fiber laser as the pulse source for a laser rangefinder system

摘要

Abstract: fibers, i.e. optically pumped doped fibers, have been developed and studied intensively during the last few years, and an optical amplifier based mainly on erbium-doped fibers has just been launched on the expanding telecommunications market. Fiber lasers have a market of their own in the sensor applications. The use of fiber lasers as pulse sources in laser rangefinder applications is studied here. The main advantages with respect to high energy pulses and a small emitting area are listed, the problems and disadvantages are discussed and some practical solutions to these problems are given. Possible Q-switching techniques for obtaining short, powerful pulses ($GRT 10 W) of about 10 ns are studied as are liquid-crystal, PLZT crystal, acousto-optic and Pockels Cell modulators. Finally, the practicability of these modulators for laser pulsing in industrial environments is discussed.!10