Alexandrite laser crystal treatment and coatings for high LIDT space applications

The development of advanced laser systems has paved the way for spaceborne laser applications like Earth’s atmosphere and surface monitoring. Prominent technologies like Nd:YAG are often exploited, however they have proven a challenge to combine the different requirements for space missions. High optical efficiencies and tunable wavelength, which are desirable for many applications, can be reconciled with a simple laser design employing Alexandrite crystals. Horizon 2020 project presented here focuses on the development of high quality and high performance coated Alexandrite crystals along with the construction of a laboratory prototype Alexandrite laser system with specifications suitable for Earth observation missions.