MICROPULSE LIDAR

An eye safe, compact, solid state lidar for profiling atmospheric clou d and aerosol scattering has been demonstrated. The transmitter of the micro pulse lidar is a diode pumped muJ pulse energy, high repetition rate Nd:YLF laser. Eye safety is obtained through beam expansion. The receiver employs a photon counting solid state Geiger mode avalanche photodiode detector. Data acquisition is by a single card multichannel scaler. Daytime background induced quantum noise is controlled by a n arrow receiver field-of-view (FOV) and a narrow bandwidth temperature controlled interference filter. Dynamic range of the signal is limited by optical geometric signal compression. Signal simulations and initi al atmospheric measurements indicate that systems built on the micro p ulse lidar concept are capable of detecting and profiling all signific ant cloud and aerosol scattering through the troposphere and into the stratosphere. The intended applications are scientific studies and env ironmental monitoring which require full time, unattended measurements of the cloud and aerosol height structure.