E4EX-022 LASER COMPONENT OF A DOPPLER LIDAR FOR MARTIAN WINDS - EXPRO+

This activity is to perform trade-offs and a risk-reduction design study for the laser component of a Doppler LIDAR for measuring, from a spacecraft in Mars orbit (via laser light scattered by atmospheric particles) the winds in the martian atmosphere. The main driver for this search is Signal-to-Noise Ratio of the returned signal and the consequent needs in terms of total optical output power (in the order of tens of mJ per pulse for each wavelength), shared between 1064 nm and 532 nm from the transmitting laser. Secondly, such a laser must be compact and designed for long-duration, high-duty cycle operation. The activity shall target TRL 3.