22 Watt sodium laser of the Adaptive Optics Facility
Sodium Laser of the Adaptive Optics Facility 22 Watt
A new 22-watt laser has now been accepted from the system supplier TOPTICA and its partner MPB following nearly five years of sustained collaboration and effort (see ann1045, ann1048, ann11039, ann12012 and ESOcast 34). This laser system will form part of the Adaptive Optics Facility at ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT).. This laser, and four further similar units (including one spare) that will be delivered later, constitute key elements of the new facility and this acceptance marks a major step forward for the project.
The new laser delivers 22 watts, which sounds modest compared to standard lightbulbs, but when emitted in a coherent way the beam is very intense (and powerful enough to require special safety measures during operation). The challenge of such lasers is to efficiently produce light at the particular wavelength needed to create the artificial star.
The performance of these new lasers, once they are in operation on the telescope, will be of interest for future projects such as the European Extremely Large Telescope, which also has requirements for multiple laser guide star units
Credit: ESO
Short link to Sodium Laser
http://tinyurl.com/sodium-laser
I show you a diagram of some of the Atmosphere the Laser needs to go through this is a very high climb a very large distance.
Mesosphere From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mesosphere (Greek language mesos "middle" and sphaira "ball")
Earth atmosphere diagram showing the exosphere and other layers.
The layers are to scale. From Earth's surface to the top of the stratosphere (50 km or 31 mi) is just under 1.2% of Earth's radius.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesosphere
Music “22. Départ" by RÉGIS VICTOR from Album Morceaux plus ou moins vieux
http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rgis_Victor/
