6533b7dafe1ef96bd126e988

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 Hellemeier

subject

PhysicsLarmor precessionBrightnessbusiness.industryPhysics::OpticsResonanceLaserlaw.inventionOptical pumpingLaser guide starOpticslawPhysics::Space PhysicsPhysics::Atomic and Molecular ClustersContinuous wavePhysics::Atomic PhysicsbusinessCircular polarization

description

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.

https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313694