Tunable ultraviolet optical parametric oscillator for differential absorption lidar measurements of tropospheric ozone

A pulsed optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with intracavity sum frequency mixing was developed generating energies of up to 16 mJ in the 281-293 nm wavelength range. Both OPO process and sum frequency mixing are pumped by the harmonics of a single, medium-sized Nd:YAG laser. The system is characterized by a high overall efficiency (similar to 4% conversion from 1064 nm to the UV), a very compact set-up and stable and reliable operation. This system was successfully employed to measure tropospheric ozone using the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique and shows much promise as a lidar transmitter in airborne case studies as well as in unattended lidar systems for long-term monitoring. An unattended ozone profiling system could already be successfully realized.