Enhancement of the design of a pulsed UV laser system for a laser-desorption mass spectrometer on Mars

C. Kolleck; A. Büttner; M. Ernst; M. Hunnekuhl; T. Hülsenbusch; A. Moalem; M. Priehs; D. Kracht; J. Neumann

doi:10.1117/12.2309097

5 January 2018 Enhancement of the design of a pulsed UV laser system for a laser-desorption mass spectrometer on Mars

C. Kolleck, A. Büttner, M. Ernst, M. Hunnekuhl, T. Hülsenbusch, A. Moalem, M. Priehs, D. Kracht, J. Neumann

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Proceedings Volume 10564, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2012; 1056419 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2309097
Event: International Conference on Space Optics 2012, 2012, Ajaccio, Corsica, France

Abstract

A laser-desorption mass spectrometer will be part of the ESA-led ExoMars mission with the objective of identifying organic molecules on planet Mars. A UV laser source emitting nanosecond pulses with pulse energy of about 250 μJ at a wavelength of 266 nm is required for the ionization of nonvolatile soil constituents. A passively q-switched, diode-pumped Nd∶YAG laser oscillator with external frequency quadrupling has been developed. The basic optical concept and a previously developed flight-near prototype are redesigned for the engineering qualification model of the laser, mainly due to requirements updated during the development process and necessary system adaptations. Performance issues like pulse energy stability, pulse energy adjustment, and burst mode operation are presented in this paper.

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C. Kolleck, A. Büttner, M. Ernst, M. Hunnekuhl, T. Hülsenbusch, A. Moalem, M. Priehs, D. Kracht, and J. Neumann "Enhancement of the design of a pulsed UV laser system for a laser-desorption mass spectrometer on Mars", Proc. SPIE 10564, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2012, 1056419 (5 January 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2309097

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