Patent attributes
In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a self-Raman laser that includes a Raman-active gain medium and a Q-switch. The self-Raman laser is configured to: produce Q-switched pulses of light at a lasing wavelength of the self-Raman laser; Raman-shift, in the Raman-active gain medium, at least a portion of the Q-switched pulses to produce Raman-shifted pulses of light, where the Raman-shifted pulses have a Raman-shifted wavelength that is longer than the lasing wavelength; and emit at least a portion of the Raman-shifted pulses. The lidar system further includes a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard and a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the scanned pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target.
