Systems and methods for control of waveform-agile laser transmitter

A method for laser transmission comprising:

• generating a waveform script, wherein the waveform script includes at least one of a pulse repetition frequency setting, a pulse duration setting, and a pulse amplitude pre-warp setting;
• generating pre-warped signal pulses based on the waveform script to compensate for gain distortion effects of a laser power amplifier;
• receiving, at the laser power amplifier, a continuous wave signal;
• generating, from the laser power amplifier, amplified signal pulses that maintain a substantially constant drive intensity at the input of a non-linear wavelength converter;
• and
• outputting, from the non-linear wavelength converter, wavelength-converted pulses;
• and
• adjusting at least one setting of the waveform script to implement waveform dithering.

A laser detection and ranging system comprising:

• a laser transmitter including:
• a waveform controller arranged to generate a waveform script, wherein the waveform script includes at least one of a pulse repetition frequency setting, a pulse duration setting, and a pulse amplitude pre-warp setting and wherein the waveform controller adjusts at least one setting of the waveform script to implement waveform dithering;
• an optical waveform generator arranged to:
• i) receive the waveform script, ii) generate pre-warped signal pulses based on the waveform script to compensate for gain distortion effects of a laser power amplifier, and iii) output the pre-warped signal pulses;
• the laser power amplifier arranged to:
• i) receive the pre-warped signal pulses, ii) receive a continuous wave signal, and iii) output amplified signal pulses that maintain a substantially constant drive intensity at the input of a non-linear wavelength converter;
• and
• the non-linear wavelength converter arranged to receive the amplified signal pulses and emit wavelength-converted pulses;
• a receiver arranged to receive scattered laser pulses corresponding to the emitted wavelength-converted pulses;
• and
• a processor arranged to process the received scattered laser pulses and generate LADAR image data.