The multiple-mirror lidar `9-eyes
Congeduti, F ; Marenco, F ; Baldetti, P ; et al. ; - ASI Sponsor
Mar - 1999
ISSN : 1464-4258 ;
journal : Journal of Optics A: Pure and Applied Optics
Issue : 2
type: Article Journal
Abstract
The Institute of Atmospheric Physics is developing a large lidar system for atmospheric remote
sensing. It will be installed in two containers, to facilitate its deployment at different locations
for measurement runs. The emitted wavelengths are 532 and 355 nm, and are obtained with a Nd:YAG
laser. The receiver includes three light collectors to split the large dynamic range of the signal
incident on each photodetector. The major receiver, to be used for the observation of the middle
atmosphere, is an array of nine 0.5 m diameter telescopes (hence the name `9-eyes). The advantage
of the multiple-mirror technique, with respect to a single-mirror receiver, is mainly in the reduced
volume, for the same receiving surface (and hence lower cost and transportability). Moreover, the
system architecture allows for flexibility in the use of different observation geometries. The other
two light collectors are smaller single telescopes, and will be used for the observation of the
lower layers of the atmosphere (troposphere and lower stratosphere). Vertical profiles extending
from the boundary layer to the mesopause are expected from this instrument, corresponding to a
luminous signal spanning over 13 orders of magnitude. Detection of elastic backscattering yields the
aerosol profile and information on clouds (base height, optical and geometrical depth of thin
clouds). It also provides the molecular density and temperature above \#\#IMG\#\#
[http://ej.iop.org/images/1464-4258/1/2/012/img7.gif] km. In the final configuration, the system
will also be equipped for the detection of the Raman-scattered signal from \#\#IMG\#\#
[http://ej.iop.org/images/1464-4258/1/2/012/img8.gif] and \#\#IMG\#\#
[http://ej.iop.org/images/1464-4258/1/2/012/img9.gif] O, to supply the corresponding vertical
distributions.
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