论文标题
放大的自发发射能否产生强烈的激光导向星的自适应光学元件？
Can amplified spontaneous emission produce intense laser guide stars for adaptive optics?
论文作者
论文摘要
自适应光学器件（AO）是地面光学和红外天文学的关键技术，具有高角度的分辨率和灵敏度。采用激光导向星（LGS）的AO系统可以实现高空覆盖范围，但是它们的性能受到LGS返回通量的限制。我们研究了两种可能产生高强度大气激光信标的新方法的潜力。放大的自发发射可能会增强在上层大气中对原子或分子物种的常规共振激发产生的信标的强度。这需要在电子过渡中产生种群反转，该转变是光学厚的，以刺激发射。潜在的激发机制包括连续的波泵，脉冲激发和血浆产生。另外，高功率飞秒脉冲激光器可以在大气中产生高光的白色超脑。来自这种来源的宽带发射也可能有助于感知大气湍流的倾斜成分。
Adaptive optics (AO) is a key technology for ground-based optical and infrared astronomy, providing high angular resolution and sensitivity. AO systems employing laser guide stars (LGS) can achieve high sky coverage, but their performance is limited by LGS return flux. We examine the potential of two new approaches that might produce high-intensity atmospheric laser beacons. Amplified spontaneous emission could potentially boost the intensity of beacons produced by conventional resonant excitation of atomic or molecular species in the upper atmosphere. This requires the production of a population inversion in an electronic transition that is optically-thick to stimulated emission. Potential excitation mechanisms include continuous wave pumping, pulsed excitation and plasma generation. Alternatively, a high-power femtosecond pulsed laser could produce a white-light supercontinuum high in the atmosphere. The broad-band emission from such a source could also facilitate the sensing of the tilt component of atmospheric turbulence.
