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Athermal diode-pumped laser designator modules for targeting application

Article  in  Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering · October 2012
DOI: 10.1117/12.977854

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ATHERMAL DIODE-PUMPED LASER DESIGNATOR MODULES
FOR TARGETING APPLICATION
B. Crepy, G. Closse, J. Da Cruz, D. Sabourdy, J. Montagne, L. Nguyen
CILAS 8 Avenue Buffon – BP 6319 - 45063 Orléans Cedex, France

ABSTRACT
We report on the development and characteristics of athermal diode-pumped designator modules as Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) for targeting application. These modules are designed with the latest diode-pumped technology
minimizing volume and power consumption.
The core technology allows to address multi-platforms requirements such as land or airborne. Products are composed of
a Laser Transmitter Unit (LTU) and Laser Electronic Unit (LEU) for modular approach.
Keywords: Designation, Laser, OEM, SAL

1. INTRODUCTION
Semi-active laser (SAL) guidance is quite demanding for laser architecture: Belong most important constraints; one can
highlight instantaneous emission requested over wide operational range (climatic, vibration, shock…), low divergence
and compactness necessary to pack the laser with its electronic in a few liters unit. Diode-pumped lasers are attractive
for this type of application because thermal losses are minimized avoiding active cooling generally used in flash-
pumped sources. As a consequence, this architecture is reliable and compact. The main drawback comes from the
thermal drift of laser diodes which imply to stabilize this component at fixed temperature. Usual thermal system such as
thermo electric cooler (TEC) are power consuming and reach desired temperature after few minutes of operation. The
athermal scheme developed by CILAS allows reconciling these various constraints by proposing a laser intrinsically
insensitive to variation of ambient temperature. Moreover the whole laser is “ITAR free”.

2. ATHERMAL PRINCIPLE
Variation of the laser’s energy in function of the temperature have various causes which effect may be expressed by
approximate mathematics in the following way [1]:

dE ∂E ∂α ∂λ
= ∗ ∗ (1)
dT ∂α ∂λ ∂T
∂E ∂σ em
+ ∗ (2)
∂σ em ∂T
∂E ∂ (dn ) ∂κ
+ ∗ dr ∗ (3)
∂ (dn ) ∂κ ∂T
dr
According to Eq.1 the variation of ambient temperature (T) induces a shift of the pumping semi-conductor emitting
wavelength (λ) which translate the spectral absorption coefficient α(λ) which may in turn lead to laser energy (E)
reduction.
According to contribution of Eq.2 terms, which is additive to Eq.1, the laser energy variation may come from laser
active element emitting cross section. However, this term have been previously measured [2] and induces a moderate
effect on a large temperature range.
According to contribution of Eq.3 terms, the variation of ambient temperature induces a modification of the active
element heat conductivity (κ) which finally modifies the index gradient, which may lead to laser energy variation.
However, this contribution is limited in comparison with the designator pulse repetition rate (PRR) necessary variation

Electro-Optical and Infrared Systems: Technology and Applications IX, edited by David A. Huckridge, Reinhard R. Ebert,
Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8541, 85410R · © 2012 SPIE · CCC code: 0277-786/12/$18 · doi: 10.1117/12.977854

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8541 85410R-1

which induces higher gradient variations. In this paper will only consider the terms of Eq.1 which are the most relevant.

The goal of thermal drift insensitive lasers is to cancel the variation of energy versus temperature on a range which is
typically -33°C to +55°C. The way to do so is to cancel at least one of the three terms of Eq.1, in order to have a null
product. We have chosen to design a laser pumping scheme in such a way the variation of absorption coefficient
through the temperature range does not impact either the absorbed energy or the pump mode overlap. The primary
approach for that understanding is to consider the absorption efficiency variation versus the absorption length. The
absorption efficiency saturates at level of 100% for long absorption lengths, independently of the absorption coefficient,
which means that absorption efficiency is nearly independent upon coefficient assuming that absorption length is “long
enough”.

1.0

0.8 Yag:Nd  3mm

Yag:Nd  50mm
Absoprtion efficiency

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
790 795 800 805 810 815 820
Pum ping Wavelength nm

Figure 1. Absorption efficiency in 1% Nd:YAG

Figure 1 shows such a behavior: The absorption efficiency is calculated for two neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum
garnet (Nd:YAG) samples of different lengths. The longest part (50mm) as a stable absorbed energy over a large
spectral range of 790nm to 820nm which corresponds roughly to a 120°C thermal range. This behavior is the base of
insensitive designs based on low energy dependency upon absorption coefficient.
The further difficulty to this is to have at the same time the requested absorption length and the proper pump/mode
overlap. The first insensitive to thermal drift design [3] was based on a semi-transverse pumping scheme (Figure 2),
which leads to multiple passes through the central doped element. Such design needs YAG diffusion bonding and
specific shapes which is a bit complex and costly.

Figure 2. Semi transverse pumping concept [3]

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8541 85410R-2

Later, Night Vision Directorate at Fort Belvoir adapted this design with “more longitudinal” orientation of pumping and
finally opted for pure longitudinal design [3], using half-length semiconductor to inject directly the rod by its end.
At BAE Systems [4], the approach keeps the same philosophy with a long pump absorption path length, but the cavity
mode sweeps this volume by going in zigzag through it. This design requires a double crossed pass zigzag slab which is
not so easy to handle, and the authors still mention the use of TEC in order to adjust the emitting wavelength in two
preferable spectral areas which are 795 and 807nm minimizing this way the need for cooling with TEC which is the
most consuming.
3. OEM LASER MODULES
3.1 Generalities
There is an increasing demand of laser designator (LD) as OEM modules to equip various platforms and systems such
as:
- Fire control systems of armored vehicles
- Observation and sighting sights for helicopters
- Reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition (RISTA) payloads for Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAVs) or helicopters
- Ground portable laser designators (GLTD) or markers
These systems even if different have common relevant characteristics:
- Overall weight dedicated to optronics tends to stabilize or reduce as more and more functions are added (day
and night camera, wide-field and narrow-field camera, laser range finder (LRF), pointer and laser designator
(LD)…). Compactness is a very important issue
- Designation capability not required for each system (whereas laser range-finding is). It is necessary to propose
laser designator (LD) separate and independent of the laser range finder (LRF) to reduce the overall cost
- Laser for designation usually quit expensive compare to other sub-assemblies. Target price critical
The athermal technology is declined in two products: ALaDeM and MiniDeM. ALaDeM is well adapted for targeting
up to 10km (NATO target 2,3x2,3m at 8km when adding optical magnifier) while MiniDeM up to 5km range (NATO
target 2,3x2,3m at 4km). Each product is composed of two modules (LTU and LEU). The laser transmitter unit (LTU)
is the opto-mechanical assembly which generates the laser beam. The laser electrical unit (LEU) is composed of
electrical boards (management and power supply). Both units are strongly connected.
The OEM approach allows lots of flexibility concerning the integration of the laser. Firstly, there is an interest to
separate the electrical unit from the laser cavity because electrical boards’ dimensions can be changed easily at
moderate cost. Changing dimensions of the laser transmitter parts (for same performances) is possible but for a cost an
order of magnitude higher. Secondly, depending of the environment inside the payload, this is not necessary to add
heavy packaging to the laser. Host systems are generally designed to prevent formation of dust or humidity at level of
sub-assemblies. This is not useful to add such redundant functions for the laser source to optimize the whole weight. For
this reason, the packing of the OEM is simplified and light weighted but could be improved and reinforced if necessary.
Thirdly, 1µm pulse lasers are primary pump sources to reach other spectral range using non-linear stages such as optical
parametric oscillators. 1,4µm to 1,7µm region is classical spectral band chosen for eye-safe LRF or active imaging. Our
OEMs are interested pump sources to use when high peak power and medium repetition rate are required (anti-aircraft).
Fourthly, the designation function is proposed as an option for most of the targeting payloads (while LRF mandatory).
A bi-mode laser is an optimized unit when the laser designator (LD) and the laser range finder (LRF) are
simultaneously required but not when most of the targeting system are only equipped of the laser range finder (LRF).

3.2 MiniDeM, the Miniature Laser Designator Module

MiniDeM is an OEM laser designed for portable, land or airborne payload (7” to 12” class).
This module has the typical following characteristics:
‰ Pulse energy : 30mJ
‰ Pulse repetition rate: STANAG3733 (or other codes)
‰ Pulse duration: 13ns
‰ Beam diameter: 15mm @1/e2

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8541 85410R-3

 ‰ Divergence: 0,6mrad @1/e2
‰ Beam wandering <100µrad
‰ Dimensions: LTU 160x77x32mm and LEU 170x65x45mm
‰ Weight : LTU=450g and LEU=300g
‰ Power consumption during firing (ambient temperature, PRF max)<24W
‰ Power consumption during stand-by mode<2W
‰ Power supply voltage=15VDC
‰ Operational temperature range: -40°C → +70°C

The unit has been characterized at CILAS.

Figure 3. MiniDeM LTU

The following paragraph presents the pulse to pulse energy evolution at ambient temperature and at pulse repetition rate
around 8Hz. After a brief transient phase, the pulse to pulse energy remains exceptionally stable. On the whole
sequence of 1 minute of operation, the mean pulse energy value is 29mJ with a standard deviation of 1%.
Pulse energy (m1)

61

91

406

421

436

451

466
16

211

241

256

271

286

301

316

331

346

361

376

391
166
46

106

121

136

151

181

196

S226
31

76

Figure 4. Pulse to pulse energy output of the MiniDeM at 8Hz

We have designed this year a new version of the MiniDeM named MiniDeM-R. This new version has the same
characteristics than MiniDeM but is resistant to high differential pressure evolution (up to 0,7bar) in order to be
integrated more easily in airborne system that operates at high altitude. This is why the mechanical package of the LTU
is reinforced keeping attractive dimensions 162x85x40mm3 and weight around 700g. MiniDeM-R will use the same

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8541 85410R-4

electrical module as MiniDeM. The Figure 5 presents the detailed design of the laser transmitter unit (LTU). We plan to
integrate a prototype end of 2012 and qualify this version during Q1 2013.

Figure 5. MiniDeM-R LTU

3.3 ALaDeM, the Athermal Laser Designator Module

ALaDeM is an OEM laser designed for portable, land or airborne payload (12” to 25” class).
This module has the typical following characteristics:
‰ Pulse energy : 90mJ
‰ Pulse repetition rate: STANAG3733 (or other codes)
‰ Pulse duration: 18ns
‰ Beam diameter: 3mm @1/e2
‰ Divergence: 0,6mrad @1/e2
‰ Beam wandering <100µrad
‰ Dimensions: LTU 270x50x47mm and LEU170x65x45mm
‰ Weight : LTU=650g and LEU=300g
‰ Power consumption during firing (ambient temperature, PRF max)<65W
‰ Power consumption during stand-by mode<2W
‰ Power supply voltage=28VDC
‰ Operational temperature range: -40°C → +70°C

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8541 85410R-5

 Figure 6. ALaDeM LTU

The LTU has been successfully qualified in July 2010 (climatic and vibrations). We have developed a new version of
the LEU and plan to test a complete prototype before end of 2012.
The following figures present the main characteristics of the ALaDeM.
00
G1
A
Pulse energy (mJ)
N
O
W
A
co
N
co
0.
O
1

105
118
131
144
157
170

196

508
521
534
547
560

586
599
S 287
183

456

573
27
40

66
79

209

235
248
261
274

300

326
339

365
378
391
404
417
430

469

495
14

92

222

313

352

443

482
53

Figure 7. Pulse to pulse energy output of the ALaDeM at 10Hz

The pulse to pulse energy remains very stable with a standard deviation less than 0,5% (peak to peak at 2,7%). The
mean value of the output energy was measured at 90mJ with a comfortable diode laser intensity value.

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8541 85410R-6

 s
g
Divergence (µrad)
s
o

14
27

53
66
79

N 287

N 326
5300
1

92
105
118
131
144

170
183
196

534
547
560
573
586
599
404
417
430
443
456
469

495
40

157

209

235
248
261
274

313

339
352
365
378
391

482

508
521
222

612
Figure 8. Pulse to pulse divergence output of the ALaDeM at 10Hz

Moreover the beam quality of this module is exceptional for such a compact device providing homogenous laser print
through on the target. The Figure 8 provides evolution of the beam divergence over 1 minutes sequence at 10Hz. The
mean divergence was measured around 600µrad with a standard deviation of 3,5%.
During the second semester of 2012, we will design an ALaDeM-R in order to propose a transient pressure resistant as
for MiniDeM-R. We plan to qualify this version during Q2 2013.

4. CONCLUSIONS
Aerial bombing missions carried out by Allied nations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya in recent years have demonstrated
the substantial gains in efficiency that can be realized through the deployment of Precision-Guided Munitions (PGMs).
Laser guided ammunitions play role particularly to destroy moving target. Efficient laser designation technology is set
to be adopted more widely as optronic payloads of the world’s air forces are modernized.
In order to equip the targeting system with laser designation source of latest generation, CILAS proposes ALaDeM and
MiniDeM, OEMs laser using athermal diode-pumped architecture. This design procures negligible power consumption
in the stand-by mode and increases the compactness of the system. ALaDeM is dedicated to long targeting (up to 10km)
while MiniDeM is compact and well adapted to medium range (up to 5km).

5. REFERENCES
[1] J Montagne & al, Temperature insensitive laser for very compact designation function on small platforms, OPTRO
2010
[2] Rappaport,A., Zhao,S., Xiao,G., Howard,A. & Bass,M. (2002) Stimulated emission cross section of neodymium in
YAG and in GSGG. Appl. Opt. 41(33), 7052-7057
[3] Crépy,B., Le Nevé,M., Montagne,J.E. & Cabaret,L. (2002). Efficient, diode temperature insensitive Nd:YAG hybrid
longitudinal/transversal-pumped zig-zag slab laser: delta concept. In Proc. ‘Advanced Solid-State Lasers’, M. Fermann
and L. Marshall, eds., Vol. 68 of Trends in Optics and Photonics Series (Optical Society of America, 2002), paper
TuC4.
[4] Schilling,B.W., Chinn,S.R., Hays,A.D., Goldberg,L.,Trussell,C.W. (2006) End-pumped 1.5 µm monoblock laser for
broad temperature operation. Appl. Opt. 45(25), 6607-6615
[5] McCarthy,J.C., Young,Y.E., Day,R.C., Konves,J., Ketteridge,P.A., Snell,K & Chicklis,E.P. (2005). Athermal,
Lightweight, Diode-Pumped, 1 micron Transmitter. In Proc. SPIE Vol.5707, Solid State Lasers XIV, 237-24

Proc. of SPIE Vol. 8541 85410R-7

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