Simultaneous remote monitoring of atmospheric methane and water vapor using an integrated path DIAL instrument based on a widely tunable optical parametric source

We report on the remote sensing capability of an integrated path differential absorption lidar (IPDIAL) instrument, for multi-species gas detection and monitoring in the 3.3–3.7 µm range. This instrument is based on an optical parametric source composed of a master oscillator-power amplifier scheme—whose core building block is a nested cavity optical parametric oscillator—emitting up to 10 µJ at 3.3 µm. Optical pumping is realized with an innovative single-frequency, 2-kHz repetition rate, nanosecond microchip laser, amplified up to 200 µJ per pulse in a single-crystal fiber amplifier. Simultaneous monitoring of mean atmospheric water vapor and methane concentrations was performed over several days by use of a topographic target, and water vapor concentration measurements show good agreement compared with an in situ hygrometer measurement. Performances of the IPDIAL instrument are assessed in terms of concentration measurement uncertainties and maximum remote achievable range.