Feb 28 2011
Research organization, CEA/LETI, and France-based space agency, CNES, have integrated NKT Photonics distributed feedback (DFB) fiber lasers into the Absolute Scalar Magnetometers.
The European Space Agency (ESA) chose CEA/LETI and CNES for its Swarm mission. NKT Photonics produces single-frequency, narrow-linewidth Koheras fiber lasers. CEA-LETI, in collaboration with CNES, designs and produces fiber laser tools for space missions.
Intrinsic single frequency operation, powerful noise and ultra-low frequency are the features of the DFB fiber lasers, which are ideal for applications requiring high spectral reliability. CEA-LETI selected the DFB fiber lasers based on their potential equivalent to Helium transition line at nearly 1083 nm.
Earlier to the Swarm mission, NASA had selected the Koheras fiber laser module for its High Spectral Resolution LIDAR (HSRL) mission for analyzing aerosol and cloud characteristics that are significant for climate study.
The Swarm mission’s objective is to analyze the temporal evolution and geomagnetic field of the Earth in order to explore its climate and interior.