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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Simulations of continuous-wave sodium laser guide stars with polarization modulation at Larmor frequency
Domenico Bonaccini CaliaRonald HolzlöhnerDmitry BudkerFelipe Pedreros BustosS. M. RochesterJoschua Hellemeiersubject
PhysicsLarmor precessionBrightnessbusiness.industryPhysics::OpticsResonanceLaserlaw.inventionOptical pumpingLaser guide starOpticslawPhysics::Space PhysicsPhysics::Atomic and Molecular ClustersContinuous wavePhysics::Atomic PhysicsbusinessCircular polarizationdescription
The return flux from a sodium laser guide star suffers, at large angles between the geomagnetic field and the laser beam, from the reduction in optical pumping due to spin-precession of sodium atoms. This detrimental effect can be mitigated by modulating the circular polarization of a continuous-wave laser beam in resonance with the Larmor frequency of sodium atoms in the mesosphere. We present an investigation based on numerical modeling to evaluate the brightness enhancement of a laser guide star with polarization modulation of a continuous-wave laser beam at different observatories.
year | journal | country | edition | language |
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2018-07-17 | Adaptive Optics Systems VI |