Our first results with a frequency chirped laser in La Palma were published in MNRAS. For these tests we used the experimental “Wendelstein” laser unit from ESO, which was limited to only 16.5 W output power. At these low power levels spectral hole burning is still negligible. However, we were still able to measure an enhanced return flux of up to 22%. With the progress towards high-power sodium guide star lasers with output power levels of 70 W and higher, the gain that can be expected from frequency chirping is considerably higher. More on-sky tests at higher power levels are already in the planning.
Frequency-chirping of guide star laser increases return flux
