Heterodyne spectrometry is a potentially powerful technique for astronomica
l or geophysical investigations. A heterodyne receiver works by mixing the
radiation under study with the laser radiation from a local oscillator (LO)
on a fast photodetector. The described apparatus uses Pb-salt diodes as th
e LO and operates between 1050 and 1150 cm(-1). The effects of the characte
ristics of the diode on the performances of the heterodyne receiver are det
ailed. Ground-based heterodyne atmospheric spectra of the nu(1) band of ozo
ne using the sun as a source are presented. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.
All rights reserved.