Atmospheric extinction and scattering effects on laser rangefinders at eyesafe wavelengths

Daniel L. Hutt; Jean-Marc Theriault; Vincent Larochelle; Deni Bonnier

doi:10.1117/12.154887

15 September 1993 Atmospheric extinction and scattering effects on laser rangefinders at eyesafe wavelengths

Daniel L. Hutt, Jean-Marc Theriault, Vincent Larochelle, Deni Bonnier

Proceedings Volume 1968, Atmospheric Propagation and Remote Sensing II; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.154887
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Extinction of laser rangefinder (LRF) pulses by the atmosphere depends on the LRF wavelength, weather conditions, and the aerosol concentration along the optical path. The total atmospheric extinction (alpha) ((lambda) ) is the sum of the molecular and aerosol contributions, (alpha) _m((lambda) ) and (alpha) _a((lambda) ). We present simple expressions for (alpha) _m((lambda) ) and (alpha) _a((lambda) ) for the LRF sources: Er:glass, Ho:YAG, and CO₂ which operate near 1.54, 2.1, and 10.6 micrometers respectively. Also included are results for Nd:YAG which may be made to lase at the eyesafe wavelength of 1.444 micrometers . The expressions give an estimate of (alpha) ((lambda) ) as a function of standard meteorological parameters, assuming horizontal beam propagation. The effect of forward scattering on the received LRF signal is also discussed.

Citation Download Citation

Daniel L. Hutt, Jean-Marc Theriault, Vincent Larochelle, and Deni Bonnier "Atmospheric extinction and scattering effects on laser rangefinders at eyesafe wavelengths", Proc. SPIE 1968, Atmospheric Propagation and Remote Sensing II, (15 September 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.154887

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