Backscatter absorption gas imaging systems and light sources therefore

A light source to provide illumination for a scene for a backscatter absorption gas imaging system comprising:

• a light-generating device producing light at more than one wavelength;
• an optical fiber amplifier to accept light from said light-generating device and produce amplified light at said more than one wavelength, wherein said optical fiber amplifier is a Yb-doped, tapered optical fiber amplifier, wherein said optical fiber amplifier includes at least one pump laser and a gain medium, and wherein each of said at least one pump laser is an air-cooled pump laser having an operating temperature at an ambient temperature;
• and
• a nonlinear frequency converter including an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) to accept said amplified light and generate an output of the light source at wavelengths shifted from and corresponding to each of said more than one wavelength.

A light source to provide illumination for a scene for a backscatter absorption gas imaging system comprising:

• two or more light-generating devices each producing light at more than one wavelength;
• a switch to select light from one of said two or more light-generating devices;
• an optical fiber amplifier to accept said selected light and produce amplified light at the more than one wavelength of said selected light;
• and
• an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) to accept said amplified light and generate an output of the light source at wavelengths shifted from and corresponding to each of said more than one wavelength.

A light source to provide illumination for a scene for a backscatter absorption gas imaging system comprising:

• a diode-pumped fiber laser producing an output of light at more than one wavelength, where said diode-pumped fiber laser is an air-cooled laser having an operating temperature at an ambient temperature, and where said output varies with temperature;
• and
• a nonlinear frequency converter including an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) to accept said output and generate an output of the light source at wavelengths shifted from and corresponding to each of said more than one wavelength;
• where said diode-pumped fiber laser is sufficiently air-cooled to provide an output hat varies by no more than 10% over an ambient temperature range of from about 0 C to about 40 C.

A backscatter absorption gas imaging system operating at an ambient temperature for imaging a gas between the system and a scene, comprising:

• a light source to generate an output for illuminating said scene, including
• a light-generating device producing light at more than one wavelength,
• an optical fiber amplifier having at least one pump laser with an output and a gain medium, where each of said at least one pump laser is an air-cooled pump laser having an operating temperature at said ambient temperature, where said optical fiber amplifier accepts light from said light generating device and produces amplified light at said more than one wavelength, and where the absorption of the output of said pump laser by said gain medium varies by no more than about 10% over an ambient temperature range of from about 0 C to about 40 C;
• and
• a nonlinear frequency converter including an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) to accept said amplified light and generate an output of the light source at wavelengths shifted from and corresponding to each of said more than one wavelength;
• and
• a camera responsive to backscattered illumination by said light source.

A backscatter absorption gas imaging system operating at an ambient temperature for imaging a gas between the system and a scene, comprising:

• a light source to generate an output for illuminating said scene, including
• a light-generating device producing light at more than one wavelength,
• an optical fiber amplifier to accept light from said light-generating device and produce amplified light at said more than one wavelength, wherein said optical fiber amplifier is a Yb-doped, tapered optical fiber amplifier, wherein said optical fiber amplifier includes at least one pump laser, and wherein each of said at least one pump laser is an air-cooled pump laser, and
• a nonlinear frequency converter including an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) to accept said amplified light and generate an output of the light source at wavelengths shifted from and corresponding to each of said more than one wavelength;
• and
• a camera responsive to backscattered illumination by said light source.

A backscatter absorption gas imaging system for imaging a gas between the system and a scene, comprising:

• a light source to generate an output for illuminating said scene, including
• two or more light-generating devices each producing continuous-wave light at more than one wavelength;
• a switch to select light from one of said two or more light-generating devices;
• an optical fiber amplifier to accept said selected light and produce amplified light at the more than one wavelength of said selected light;
• and
• an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) to accept said amplified light and generate an output of the light source at wavelengths shifted from and corresponding to each of said more than one wavelength;
• and
• a camera responsive to backscattered illumination by said light source.

A backscatter absorption gas imaging system for imaging a gas between the system and a scene, comprising:

• a light source to provide illumination for a scene for a backscatter absorption gas imaging system comprising
• a diode-pumped fiber laser producing an output of light at more than one wavelength, where said diode-pumped fiber laser is an air-cooled laser, and where said output varies with temperature, and
• a nonlinear frequency converter including an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) to accept said output and generate an output of the light source at wavelengths shifted from and corresponding to each of said more than one wavelength;
• and
• a camera responsive to backscattered illumination by said light source,
• where said diode-pumped fiber laser is sufficiently air-cooled to provide an output that varies by no more than 10% over an ambient temperature range of from about 0 C to about 40 C.