Theory of Cw Lidar Aerosol Backscatter Measurements and Development of a 2.1 Microns Solid-State Pulsed Laser Radar for Aerosol Backscatter Profiling

Book excerpt: The performance and calibration of a focused, continuous wave, coherent detection CO2 lidar operated for the measurement of atmospheric backscatter coefficient, B(m), was examined. This instrument functions by transmitting infrared (10 micron) light into the atmosphere and collecting the light which is scattered in the rearward direction. Two distinct modes of operation were considered. In volume mode, the scattered light energy from many aerosols is detected simultaneously, whereas in the single particle mode (SPM), the scattered light energy from a single aerosol is detected. The analysis considered possible sources of error for each of these two cases, and also considered the conditions where each technique would have superior performance. The analysis showed that, within reasonable assumptions, the value of B(m) could be accurately measured by either the VM or the SPM method. The understanding of the theory developed during the analysis was also applied to a pulsed CO2 lidar. Preliminary results of field testing of a solid state 2 micron lidar using a CW oscillator is included. Kavaya, Michael J. and Henderson, Sammy W. and Frehlich, R. G. Unspecified Center AEROSOLS; BACKSCATTERING; CONTINUOUS RADIATION; INFRARED RADAR; INFRARED RADIATION; OPTICAL RADAR; OSCILLATORS; PULSED LASERS; RADAR MEASUREMENT; SOLID STATE; SOLID STATE LASERS; CALIBRATING; COLLECTION; ERRORS; SCATTERING COEFFICIENTS; TRANSMISSION...