Elastic backscattering lidar system for atmospheric measurements in Antarctica

An elastic backscattering lidar and initial results are described. The lidar system has been designed to operate in Antarctica for the Italian National Programme for Antarctic Research. The first field trials were held during the period from 31 December 1987 to 10 February 1988. Data were collected for both tropospheric and stratospheric atmospheric parameters. Tropospheric measurements included the cloud base, optical depth, extinction and backscattering coefficients for clouds, whereas aerosols and the molecular atmosphere were monitored in the stratosphere. The lidar system was also tested for the determination of temperature and density in ranges up to 40 km. Preliminary results of the lidar measurements carried out at Terra Nova Bay are presented. The lidar system is composed of a Nd–YAG laser, a Newtonian telescope and two receiving channels with computer-controlled data acquisition and display equipment. The system is operated in a mobile container specifically designed for the Antarctic environment.     

国外差分吸收激光雷达探测大气水汽廓线的研究进展

水汽含量是大气最基本的物理参量之一,大气水汽垂直分布结构对于大气过程的研究十分有意义。差分吸收激光雷达可以昼夜获取高精度、高距离分辨率的大气水汽垂直分布廓线,是最有潜力的探测手段。国际上已经发展出几种类型的差分吸收激光雷达,对它们的发展路径做一梳理,理清发展脉络,具有有益的参考价值。其中,稍早时期水汽差分吸收激光雷达工作在4ν振动吸收带720～730 nm频域,以Alexandrite为主流的激光器或者Nd∶YAG/ruby固体激光器泵浦的染料激光器作为发射光源,光电倍增管仍然可以在这个波段担任探测器,代表性的仪器是法国的机载LEANDRE Ⅱ。此后发展的820 nm波段的水汽差分吸收激光雷达,以钛宝石激光器或钛宝石光放大器为发射机,以硅的雪崩二极管作为探测器,紧跟前置放大和数据的AD采集器,如德国Hohenheim大学的车载扫描激光雷达,可以获得对流层300～4 000 m之间水汽两维或三维分布结构;德国Institutfür Meteorologie und Klimaforschung所建立的差分吸收激光雷达可以探测3～12 km高度之间大气的水汽垂直分布。720和820 nm波段水汽吸收截面较小,更适合于地基或车载的对流层水汽廓线探测。而水汽3ν振动谱935 nm区域吸收截面较大,是为了空间探测大气对流层上、平流层下相对干燥区域的水汽分布而准备的,且可以安排多个探测波长,和一个参考波长,它们对水汽的吸收截面大小呈梯度分布,以应对空间对地观测时不同高度大气水汽浓度的差别。基于种子注入的光参量振荡器或Nd∶YGG全固态激光器的935 nm差分吸收激光雷达,以德国Deutsches Zentrumfür Luft- und Raumfahrt的研究最为成功,推动了欧洲空间局立项发展空间水汽差分吸收激光雷达WALES（Water Vapour Lidar Experiment in Space）,测量从地球表面到平流层下、高垂直分辨率和高精度水汽浓度分布。机载多波长水汽差分吸收激光雷达1999年建立起来,担当空间WALES任务的模拟器,2006年完成了机载飞行试验。以823～830 nm分布布拉格反射半导体激光器和半导体光放大器为核心、采用雪崩二极管盖格光子计数技术的微脉冲差分吸收激光雷达,是差分吸收激光雷达面向商业化、可普及的方向迈出的重要一步,目前已经发展到第四代产品。发射机激光工作波长的长期稳定十分重要而棘手,以窄带连续波种子激光注入脉冲激光器的谐振腔锁定其的腔长,种子激光的波长以水汽的多通道光吸收池为参照标准,或以高精度波长计为误差获取手段,通过负反馈进行主动稳频;其次,需要仔细考虑大气对激光的后向散射光谱线型,显然Rayleigh后向散射光的多普勒展宽与水汽吸收光谱线宽度可以比拟,所以其吸收截面σ_on和σ_off必需加以修正;水汽的空间垂直分布梯度大,因此差分吸收激光雷达应该实行分通道探测。     

瑞利激光雷达探测南京上空平流层大气温度

为了解平流层大气温度变化规律,利用瑞利-拉曼-米散射激光雷达对南京上空平流层温度进行长期观测,对观测数据的分析表明:夜晚平流层温度受到重力波的影响,重力波破碎会导致局部温度升高,温度相对变化可以达到12%;在季节变化的过渡月份(4月和10月),平流层中低层温度会有所升高,对应的平流层高层温度降低;平流层温度月变化方面,除局部由于行星星际波的影响外,各月份平流层温度整体上相对比较稳定,激光雷达所测大气温度与大气模式温度具有一定的差别。最后,利用平流层温度廓线提取了重力波信息。     

Development of a tunable IR lidar system

A differential absorption lidar system (DIAL) based on a continuously tunable optical parametric amplifier (OPA) pumped by a Nd : YAG laser (200 mJ at λ=355 nm) operating at a maximum pulse repetition rate of 100 Hz has been developed. The system provides continuously tunable coherent radiation in the Visible–near IR range (0.4–2.5 μm), allowing to perform DIAL measurements in a spectral region where most of atmospheric constituents and pollutants display absorption lines. The spectral width of the OPA system is line-narrowed by using a master oscillator dye laser as seeder, achieving a linewidth of 0.04 cm⁻¹ (FWHM), a spectral purity larger than 99% and a frequency stability better than 1 pm h⁻¹, with an output energy in the IR of 1–10 mJ. The OPA system was used to perform DIAL measurements in the lower troposphere. Preliminary results in terms of water vapor content and aerosol backscattering profiles are presented and discussed.     

Generation of tunable cw infrared radiation by difference frequency mixing

Tunable cw infrared radiation has been generated by noncollinear difference frequency mixing in LiIO₃, using the output of an argon ion laser at 514 nm or 488 nm and the intracavity radiation of a Rhodamine 6 G dye laser. Infrared powers up to 4 μW in multimode and 0.5 μW in single-mode operation tunable in the range of 2.3 μm to 4.6 μm have been obtained. Properties and possibilities of the noncollinear mixing geometry and the intracavity mixing system are discussed.     

Tunable cw infrared radiation by noncollinear difference-frequency mixing

Tunable cw infrared radiation has been generated by non-collinear difference-frequency mixing in LiJO₃, using the intracavity radiation of a Nd:YAG laser and the output of a Rhodamine 6G dye laser. Infrared powers of ∽35 μW tunable from 1.28 μm to 1.62 μm have been obtained.     

Narrow-band UV radiation (250–260 nm) from intracavity doubling a single-mode ring dye laser

Generation of continuous-wave, tunable UV radiation (250–260 nm) by intracavity doubling a coumarin-515 ring dye laser is described. A cooled (200–280 K) ADP crystal with end faces cut at Brester's angle is placed inside the laser ring cavity which has been compensated for astigmatism and coma. UV output powers at 254 nm of 120 μW and 60 μW are achieved with the laser operating multimode (bandwidth ? 20 GHz) and single-mode (bandwidth ? 50 MHz), respectively. Continuous single-mode scans over the 253.7 nm mercury profile demonstrate sub-Doppler resolution of the Hg 6s6p ³P^O₁ - 6s²¹S₀ transition.     

Spectral and nonlinear studies of an aniline blue dye in liquid and solid media

Solid-state dye-doped polymers are an attractive alternative to conventional liquid dye solutions. In this paper, the spectral characteristics and nonlinear properties of the Aniline Blue dye has been studied. The third-order nonlinear optical properties of the Aniline Blue dye in ethanol and a dye-doped polymer film were measured by the Z-scan technique using a 632.8-nm He-Ne laser. This material exhibits a negative optical non-linearity. The dye at a 0.4-mM concentration exhibited a nonlinear refractive coefficient (n ₂ = ?4.02 × 10^?8 and ?4.41 × 10^?8 cm²/W in liquid and solid media, respectively), a nonlinear absorption coefficient (β = ?9.7 × 10^?4 and ?11.63 × 10^?4 cm/W in liquid and solid media, respectively), and susceptibility (x ⁽³⁾ = 1.844 × 10^?6 and 2.028 × 10^?6 esu in liquid and solid media, respectively). These results show that the Aniline Blue dye has potential applications in nonlinear optics.     

A comprehensive optical investigation of processes of transformation of the ozonosphere above Tomsk

The results are given on experimental optical research into variations and peculiarities of the time dependence of the total ozone content (TOC) and the influence of an eruption of the Pinatubo Volcano on the stratospheric ozone layer, as well as observations of local negative ozone anomalies and polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), obtained during lidar and spectrophotometric measurements at the Siberian Lidar Station (56°.5 N, 85°.0 E). It is shown that normal and anomalous deviations in TOC are due to atmospheric dynamics and depend on the amount of anomaly in the atmospheric processes themselves. Under the conditions of considerable loading of the stratosphere with volcanogenic aerosol, a substantial inverse relationship between aerosol and ozone contents is observed. The formation of PSCs and a local TOC decrease correspond to an anomalous thermodynamic state of the troposphere and lower stratosphere. Institute of Atmospheric Optics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 75–82, September, 1998.     

High power narrow linewidth laser at 556 nm for magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium

We present a high-power and narrow-linewidth laser for intercombination magneto-optical trapping of ytterbium (Yb) atoms using the 6s^{2 1}S₀–6s6p ³P₁ transition. The system generates 415 mW of continuous wave laser radiation at 556 nm with a linewidth of less than 100 kHz. It is based on a commercial 1 W fiber laser with a frequency doubling stage. Up to 58% frequency doubling efficiency is obtained at an input power of 0.5 W by using a lithium triborate crystal as a nonlinear medium. The system has been successfully used for laser cooling of Yb atoms. PACS  42.55.Wd; 42.60.By; 42.79.Nv     

Detection of atomic oxygen in flames by absorption spectroscopy

The absolute concentration of atomic oxygen in an atmospheric pressure hydrogen/air flame has been measured using Intracavity Laser Spectroscopy (ICLS) based on a dye laser pumped by an argon-ion laser. Absorptions at the highly forbidden transitions at 630.030 nm and 636.380 nm were observed at an equivalent optical length of up to 10 km. The relatively low intensity of the dye laser avoids photochemical interferences that are inherent to some other methods for detecting atomic oxygen. The detection sensitivity is about 6 × 10¹⁴ atom/cm³ and can be improved with better flame and laser stabilization.     

The airborne multi-wavelength water vapor differential absorption lidar WALES: system design and performance

A high-performance airborne water vapor differential absorption lidar has been developed during the past years. This system uses a four-wavelength/three-absorption line measurement scheme in the 935 nm H₂O absorption band to cover the whole troposphere and lower stratosphere simultaneously. Additional high spectral resolution aerosol and depolarization channels allow precise aerosol characterization. This system is intended to demonstrate a future space-borne instrument. For the first time, it realizes an output power of up to 12 W at a high wall-plug efficiency using diode-pumped solid-state lasers and nonlinear conversion techniques. Special attention was given to a rugged optical layout. This paper describes the system layout and technical realization. Key performance parameters are given for the different subsystems.     

Simultaneous tunable two-wavelength ultraviolet dye laser

A dye laser system allowing simultaneous tunable two-wavelength oscillationin the ultraviolet has been developed. An intra-cavity dual beam system employs one diffraction and grating frequencydoubling at both wavelengths is achieved with bidirectional illumination of a single KDP crystal. The system characteristics will be discussed with respect to application in a differential absorption lidar operating around 300 nm for atmospheric SO₂ detection.     

Intercomparison of ozone profiles measurements by a differential absorption lidar system and satellite instruments at Buenos Aires, Argentina

A ground-based DIfferential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system has been implemented at CEILAP (CITEFA-CONICET) laboratory (34°33′S, 58°30′W), located in the Buenos Aires industrial suburbs. The goal is to perform measurements of the stratospheric ozone layer. Systematic measurements of ozone concentration profiles from 18 to 35 km altitude are performed since early 1999. Our measurements are carried out in 5 h in average during the night and in cloudless conditions. The DIAL system allows us to calculate directly the ozone profile from the lidar backscattering radiation since it is a self-calibrating technique. The signal processing takes into account the influence of the temperature profile on the ozone cross section. The temperature data are obtained from the radiosondes measurements performed at Ezeiza International Airport (34°30′S, 58°18′W), 27 km from DIAL station. The evolution of the stratospheric ozone profile is studied for different months. Results are compared with the data obtained by different satellites SAGE II, HALOE and GOME. The comparisons between our DIAL system and the satellite measurements show an agreement better than 20% for 20–35 km altitude range.     

New UV tunable solid-state lasers for lidar applications

We present the first lidar/DIAL system based on an Ultra Violet (UV) vibronic laser. A Nd:YAG-pumped Ce:LiSAF laser has been developed for this purpose, providing high pulse energy (5 mJ at 10 Hz), very high slope efficiency (33%), and a tuning range from 284 to 299 nm. Simultaneous measurements of SO₂ and O₃ concentration profiles are presented using this frequency-agile Ce:LiSAF-based lidar system.     

Generation,stabilization, and amplification of subpicosecond pulses

A sync-pumped cw dye laser system has been used to produce subpicosecond pulses. Pulses as short as 0.7 ps, assuming a single-sided exponential pulse shape, were observed. A set of experiments was performed to investigate the origin and effects of noise in the sync-pumped system. A digital and an analog feedback loop have been designed to optimize the pulse width. The noise has been lowered by 10 dB for frequencies up to 10 kHz; long-term drift is also controlled by this method. A four-stage dye laser amplifier, pumped by a Nd:YAG laser which operates at a 10-Hz repetition rate, is synchronized electronically to the dye-laser picosecond pulses. A gain of 3×10⁶ has been achieved.This work was supported by the Joint Services Electronics Program     

Enhanced efficiency and extended wavelength range of dye lasers operated with DCM

It is observed that the efficiency of the DCM dye dissolved in ethylene glycol benzyl alcohol can be enhanced if the dye is preheated at a temperature of 150 °C. Peak powers as high as 1.5 W have been achieved with a single-mode ring dye laser at 640 nm when pumped by 9 W (all lines) from an argon-ion laser. The wavelength region has been also extended beyond both ends of the tuning curve compared to a conventionally prepared DCM dye. Received: 3 September 1999 / Revised version: 9 December 1999 / Published online: 23 February 2000     

Transverse pseudo-nonlinear effects measured in solid-state laser materials using a sensitive time-resolved technique

The fluorescence of different types of planthopper (Hemiptera) and moth (Lepidoptera), which constitute important Chinese agricultural pests, was investigated both in situ in a laboratory setting and remotely using a fluorescence light detection and ranging (lidar) system operating at a range of about 50 m. The natural autofluorescence of different species, as well as the fluorescence from insects that had been dusted with fluorescent dye powder for identification were studied. Autofluorescence spectra of both moths and planthoppers show a maximum intensity peak around 450 nm. Bleaching upon long-time laser illumination was modest and did not affect the shape of the spectrum. A single dyed rice planthopper, a few mm in size, could be detected at 50 m distance by using the fluorescence lidar system. By employing various marking dyes, different types of agricultural pest could be determined. We suggest that lidar may be used in studies of migration and movement of pest insects, including studies of their behavior in the vicinity of pheromone traps and in pheromone-treated fields.