Open Access Paper
12 July 2019 Optical design and characterization of the MOMA laser head flight model for the ExoMars 2020 mission
A. Büttner, M. Ernst, M. Hunnekuhl, R. Kalms, L. Willemsen, P. Weßels, D. Kracht, J. Neumann
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Proceedings Volume 11180, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2018; 111805H (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2536116
Event: International Conference on Space Optics - ICSO 2018, 2018, Chania, Greece
Abstract
A space-qualified flight model of a pulsed ultraviolet (UV) laser has been developed for the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer (MOMA) instrument of the ExoMars 2020 mission. The design is based on a passively Q-switched Nd:Cr:YAG laser oscillator with subsequent two-stage frequency quadrupling. It emits nanosecond pulses with an energy tuneable between 13 μJ and 130 μJ at a wavelength of 266 nm.

Considering its small physical dimensions and weight, the interior of the laser head is rather complex. Besides the aforementioned infrared oscillator and frequency conversion stage it contains the pump optics, two wavelength division assemblies within main beam path, a complex monitoring stage including two photodiodes for pulse energy measurement, a beam shaping setup and a deflection unit for fine adjustment of the beam pointing towards the sample location within the instrument. Most of the laser head is enclosed in a hermetically sealed housing, while the deflection unit is sealed separately. Both volumes are filled with 1 bar of dry, filtered air.
© (2019) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A. Büttner, M. Ernst, M. Hunnekuhl, R. Kalms, L. Willemsen, P. Weßels, D. Kracht, and J. Neumann "Optical design and characterization of the MOMA laser head flight model for the ExoMars 2020 mission", Proc. SPIE 11180, International Conference on Space Optics — ICSO 2018, 111805H (12 July 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2536116
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KEYWORDS
Oscillators

Ultraviolet radiation

Crystals

Frequency conversion

Pulsed laser operation

Ferroelectric materials

Laser crystals

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