MPBC 100W CW 1178nm, single mode, single-frequency, linearly polarized Raman fiber amplifier (RFA) powers ESO’s New 63W CW experimental guide star laser.

September 2, 2021 - : Based on the MPB Communications Inc’s (MPBC) 100W CW 1178 nm, single-mode, single frequency, linearly polarized Raman fiber amplifier (RFA), a novel European Southern Observatory (ESO) experimental laser of 63W CW at 589 nm was commissioned for on-sky operation at the Allgäuer VolksSternwarte Ottobeuren observatory in Germany and tested for two weeks in July 2021.

The CaNaPy laser — based on ESO patented technology — undergoes its first tests at the Allgäuer VolksSternwarte Ottobeuren observatory in Germany.  Its eventual home will be at the European Space Agency’s Optical Ground Station in Tenerife, Spain, where it will form part of the CaNaPy adaptive optics system, helping to correct for the blurring effect brought about by turbulence in the Earth’s atmosphere. Credit: F. Kamphues/ESO

This laser is to form part of the CaNaPy Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics facility, set to be installed at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Optical Ground Station in Tenerife, Spain, in the frame of the joint ESO-ESA R&D collaborative efforts.

Powered by the MPBC 100W CW 1178nm, single-mode, single frequency, linearly polarized Raman fiber amplifier (RFA), first announced by the company at the SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation Conference in 2018, the new experimental laser provides an unprecedented level of power, almost three times that of the current generation SodiumStar manufactured by MPB and Toptica Photonics and deployed at ESO’s Very Large Telescope as well as observatories worldwide.
MPBC is a Licensee of the ESO Fiber Raman Amplifier Technology developed and transferred by ESO. The MPBC PM RFA is an adaptation of the narrow-band RFA technology developed by ESO. The key challenge in amplifying a narrow-band signal to such high-power levels in an RFA is overcoming the limitation imposed by Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), a non-linear optical effect.

Final system test performed at MPBC’s headquarters prior to shipment of the new 100 W linearly polarized Raman fiber amplifier (RFA) to ESO for integration and on-sky testing at the Allgaeuer Volkssternwarte Ottobeuren observatory in Germany. Credit: MPB Communications Inc.

The MPBC 100W CW 1178nm unit uses a two-stage polarization-maintaining (PM) RFA counter-pumped by a PM 1120-nm fiber laser to amplify a linearly-polarized 15-mW narrow-linewidth 1178-nm seed laser. Efficient suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) pushes the SBS threshold above 100W. Through careful selection of Raman fiber types and lengths, the Raman conversion efficiency is maximized thereby mitigating thermal loads on critical optical components, thus maintaining long-term reliability.

This state-of-the-art development facilitates new Laser guide star (LGS) applications including the implementation of LGS adaptive optics systems in satellite ground stations for optical feeder links. While the next generation of satellite constellations provide unprecedented capacity through the use of optical inter-satellite links, there is still a capacity bottleneck at the RF feeder links from satellite to ground stations, which are a magnitude slower in moving data.  In order to move to all optical feeder links, there is a challenge to overcome the distortion associated with atmospheric turbulence.  LGS adaptive optics systems are a key enabling technology to help solve this beam wander problem for ground to space optical systems. 

The new 100W RFA complements MPB Communications' multiple activities in satellite optical communications, which includes the development and supply of very high-power amplifiers for ground-to-space communications, as well as the supply of space-based optical amplifiers for inter-satellite communications for deployment in next-generation optical satellite constellations.

About MPB Communications Inc.

MPBC is a leading supplier of innovative, high-performance fiber laser and fiber amplifier systems and subsystems to the international high-tech industry.  The head office, research laboratories and manufacturing facilities are located in Montreal, Quebec.  The company is privately held and self-financed. It has maintained its technological leadership through an ongoing commitment to R&D, investing approximately 20% of annual revenues back into research and development.  MPB Communications Inc. is a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise and part of the WEConnect International’s Global eNetwork.

More Links:

Contacts

 

 

 

September 2, 2021 - MPBC 100W CW 1178nm, single mode, single-frequency, linearly polarized Raman fiber amplifier (RFA) powers ESO’s New 63W CW experimental guide star laser

February 4, 2021 - Increase DCI Capacity at the Push of a Button: MPB Communications Inc. introduces new 16-channel multiprotocol DCI OLS.

January 27, 2018 - Introducing..... High-Power Femtosecond Fiber Lasers at 920 nm and 1190 nm Spectral Range

January 27, 2018 - MoNaLISA in the making: A "Smart Microscope” proposal wins MPB’s “Celebration of Innovation” contest

September 4, 2017 - MPB to receive OSA's 2017 Paul F. Forman Team Engineering Excellence Award for the Guide Star Alliance

January 9, 2017 - A Celebration of Innovation

September 14, 2016 - MPB Communications Inc. Shares Prestigious Award Celebrating Advancement in the Application of Laser Light

September 8, 2016 - Mini Spectrometer Flying High

April 27, 2016 - The most powerful laser guide star system in the world sees first light at the Paranal Observatory

December 8, 2015 - $4 Million Laser Marks Ground Zero for Adaptive Optics Science

August 3, 2015 - GHGSat Imaging Spectrometer Payload Delivered

May 25, 2015 - Raman Fiber Amplifier Technology Enables 22W 589-nm Guide Star: First Light Shining Bright

March 28th, 2014 - First Guide Star Laser Accepted by ESO

July 17, 2013 - ETC Performs T-PEDS Certification Test for the PM’S CC150 Polaris Jet

March 28, 2012 - In Memoriam Morrel P Bachynski

October 15, 2010 - Tests clear way for cell phones during taxi-in

September 7, 2010 - MPB Communications awarded Patent for new material that passively reacts to ambient temperatures

August 11, 2010 - MPBC Signs Licensing Agreement with the European Southern Observatory

June 1, 2010 - Quebec celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Laser

January 20, 2010 -Smart Reconfigurable
All Terrain Multi-Mission Microrover

January 4, 2010 - 532 nm
5 Watt Compact Air-cooled Fiber Laser

November 27, 2009 - MPB Technologies & Concordia University win Technology Partnership Award from ADRIQ

November 24, 2009 - CSA invests in 5 R&D projects with MPB Communications

November 2, 2009 - PROBA-2 Hits Orbit

 

© 2024 MPB Communications Inc. • 147 Hymus Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H9R 1E9 • info@mpbc.ca
All specifications subject to change without notice.