Seven possible variants of the sodium atom excitation are considered for creating a polychromatic laser guide star (LGS). It has been shown that the 42P3/2 ← 32S1/2 transition excited at a wavelength of 330.237 nm is most suitable for creating a polychromatic LGS in sodium vapor using the effect of cascade fluorescence at one-photon excitation. In this case, the excitation efficiency will be 2 orders of magnitude lower compared to the efficiency of creating a monochromatic LGS at a wavelength of 589 nm.
The paper considers the problem of solving the inverse problem of retrieval of the vertical distribution of atmospheric temperature from a Rayleigh scattering lidar signal in a high spectral resolution lidar. It is shown that the lidar signal, filtered from the aerosol scattering signal using a molecular filter, acquires a parasitic dependence on the atmospheric temperature due to a change in the width and shape of the Rayleigh scattering line contour. Signal distortions have a significant effect on the result of retrieval of the vertical temperature distribution and do not allow using the standard signal processing technique. To eliminate the influence of the signal filtering effect, the advanced temperature retrieval algorithms should be applied.
KEYWORDS: LIDAR, Photodetectors, Signal attenuation, Temperature metrology, Pulse signals, Photon counting, Laser sintering, Signal intensity, Air temperature, Rectangular pulse
A lidar response simulator has been created that makes it possible to generate an optical signal close in shape and intensity to a real lidar signal in the temperature measurement channels at the main lidar of the Siberian Lidar Station. An experimental evaluation of the linearity range of the photodetection system has been carried out. The paper shows a block diagram of a stand for experimental evaluation of the linearity range of a lidar photodetection system with the ability to synthesize a pulsed optical signal. It is shown that when a signal is recorded in the photon counting mode, nonlinear distortions are observed at an average counting pulse arrival frequency of 2.5 MHz.
The winter of 2022-2023 was characterized by intense dynamic processes associated with the formation of blocks in the middle troposphere and the occurrence of sudden stratospheric warmings (SSW) in the stratosphere. The SSW event in January-February 2023 is likely related to prolonged blocking over the Urals and Europe in the second half of January. Lidar measurements of atmospheric temperature based on the use of pure rotational raman spectra on nitrogen and oxygen molecules at altitudes up to 70 km in the Akademgorodok area of Tomsk during the SSW period, and their comparison with WACCM model data and satellite Aura data showed a number of characteristic features associated with changes in the structure of the stratopause due to SSW.
The paper substantiates the choice of the slope of the spectral characteristic of the Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) for an incoherent Doppler lidar. The results of numerical simulation of the relative sensitivity of the FPI transmission with a change in the wind speed in the atmosphere by 1 m/s are presented for various FPI bases.
The paper discusses the problem of ensuring the linearity of photo registration of the lidar signal of molecular scattering on the main lidar of the Siberian lidar station (SLS) based on a unique mirror with a diameter of 2.2 m. To reduce the dynamic range of signal changes, it is proposed to use a mechanical shutter based on a disk obturator to cut off the near zone of the lidar signal in the altitude range of 0÷30 km. A high-speed brushless motor was used as an obturator driver. The synchronization signal was generated by a Hall sensor. Bench and full-scale tests of the obturator were carried out. It is shown that the error of the Hall sensor does not affect the delay and duration of the shutter opening.
The paper considers a block diagram of a photodetection system based on a new version of the four-channel photon counter "PHCOUNT-4" used for precision lidar measurements of atmospheric temperature. The results of using the new capabilities of the analog part of the photon counting system, which makes it possible to automatically record the amplitude distribution of single-electron pulses of each of the photodetectors installed in the channels and determine the optimal discrimination threshold, are described. It is shown that setting the optimal discrimination thresholds makes it possible to achieve a small spread in the end-to-end quantum efficiency of each of the channels
The paper considers the equipment and methodology for remote determination of the vertical distribution of atmospheric temperature up to altitudes of 90 km. The technique is based on the lidar measurements of the vertical profile of the molecular density of the atmosphere using the Rayleigh scattering effect. The results obtained on the modernized Rayleigh scattering channel of the lidar based on the main mirror of the Siberian lidar station with a diameter of 2.2 m are demonstrated. The atmospheric temperature profile obtained from the lidar data is compared with the temperature profile of a satellite radiometer in the altitude range of 40-90 km.
The paper considers the equipment and methodology for remote determination of the vertical distribution of atmospheric temperature up to altitudes of 90 km. The technique is based on the lidar measurements of the vertical profile of the molecular density of the atmosphere using the Rayleigh scattering effect. The results obtained on the modernized Rayleigh scattering channel of the lidar based on the main mirror of the Siberian lidar station with a diameter of 2.2 m are discussed. A two-stage procedure for the remote estimation of temperature by molecular backscattering is proposed, which makes it possible to estimate the temperature both in a free atmosphere and in a cuvette in which the relationship between the temperature and pressure does not fit into the barometric model. Calculations have shown that the accuracy of the temperature profile retrieval depends on the choice of the calibration point and its error. The calculation of the profile by formula, when the calibration point is chosen at the upper part of the sounding path, has greater stability and accuracy compared to calculations by formula with the calibration point chosen at the beginning of the path.
The efficiency of application of the combined photodetection technique for recording the lidar signals of the main mirror of the Siberian Lidar Station (SLS) is evaluated. It is shown that under the lidar signal recording in the photon counting mode, nonlinear distortion of the lidar response is observed in the altitude range from 1 to 26 km. It is shown in that the use of a combined method of the lidar signal recording can significantly expand the range of the detection linearity in the photon counting mode. Experimental testing of the lidar recording system was carried out under the detection of signals of various intensities.
The article describes the technique and equipment created on the basis of unique equipment of the Siberian Lidar Station (SLS) for regular measurements of the vertical temperature profile of the atmosphere based on the joint use of the methods of pure rotational Raman spectra (PRRS) and Rayleigh scattering. A block diagram of the lidar complex based on the main receiving mirror of the SLS with the diameter of 2.2 m is presented.
To assess the parameters of the control loop of the automatic tuning system of the SLS lidar complex, the transfer function of the precision mechanism for adjusting the transmitting mirror of the transceiver was studied. To assess the possibility of using a single polychromator to select areas of the Raman spectra when measuring the temperature of the stratosphere, the level of suppression of the unshifted scattering line in a modernized single polychromator has been measured.
The results of computer simulation of the lidar overlap functions obtained by the ray-tracing method for a transceiver optical system with four receiving apertures are presented. It is shown that when using a multi-element transceiver based on a combination of four receiving apertures of different diameters, the lidar sensing range from 5 to 3000 m can be obtained with a dynamic range of the lidar return not more than 10. A prototype of the Raman lidar based on the four-aperture transceiver is created. A comparison is made of the calculated values of the lidar returns for a given overlap function of the transceiver with the experimental values of the lidar Raman signals for a uniform atmosphere. The comparison results confirm the correctness of the calculation method and can be used as a criterion when adjustment of the transceiver.
A kinetic model is presented that allows one to trace the temporal dynamics of the laser fragmentation/laser-induced fluorescence (LF/LIF) process of nitro-based compound vapors under separate excitation. A good agreement between the experimental data and the results of calculation indicates the adequacy of application of the developed kinetic model for describing the LF/LIF process.
The results of the study of the effect of background nitrogen dioxide on the limitation of the sensitivity of the LF/LIF method are presented. The calculated sensitivity values of the one-color LF/LIF method for the detection of nitrobenzene and nitrotoluene vapors in the presence of background nitrogen dioxide are presented.
A method is proposed for increasing the efficiency of the laser fragmentation/laser-induced fluorescence method for the detection of vapors of high-energy materials by selecting a time delay between the fragmenting laser pulse and the optical pumping pulse of NO fragments.
The article deals with the problem of developing a technique and creating equipment for regular observations of stationary variations in the vertical distribution of the stratosphere temperature. As a methodical basis, it is proposed to use a method for measuring the temperature of the atmosphere from the ratio of intensities of the sections of the purely rotational spectrum of spontaneous Raman scattering on nitrogen and oxygen molecules. A block diagram of a lidar based on the use of a single diffraction polychromator in combination with the transmission of optical signals by optical fibers is given. An experimental estimation of the total quantum efficiency of the photon counting system is carried out. The obtained data made it possible to clarify the technical parameters of the lidar and to increase the reliability of the estimate.
The report presents a project of a lidar for the simultaneous measurements of the vertical profiles of the atmospheric temperature, humidity, and aerosol extinction using Raman effect. The Raman-lidar design based on the application of a powerful UV-laser in combination with the specialized diffraction polychromators using optical-fibers for the lidar signals transmission allows providing minimal dimensions and high reliability of the lidar.
A design of a thermostated cuvette is proposed that ensures the stability and repeatability of the vapor concentration distribution of high-energy materials during the evaluation tests of the lidar detector.
The paper presents the results of studying the possibility of remote detection of explosive vapors in the atmosphere on the basis of the LIDAR principle with the use of the laser fragmentation/laser-induced fluorescence approach. A project of the mobile automated scanning high-performance UV LIDAR for remote detection of explosives is presented. Experimental data on the detection of vapors of trinitrotoluene (TNT) and mixture of hexogen (RDX) and TNT (Composition B) at a distance of 13 m are obtained. The sensitivity of the LIDAR detector of explosive vapors is estimated. For TNT vapors, the sensitivity limit of the LIDAR detector is estimated as 1×10-12 g/cm3 at the probability of detection of P= 97%.
Factors limiting the sensitivity and determining the noise immunity of the Raman-lidar method are considered. Influence of the energy characteristics of laser radiation on the sensitivity of Raman lidar is examined. Parameters of the laser radiation are proposed that can increase the noise immunity of the Raman-lidar method using a source of radiation in the UV wavelength range.
Siberian Lidar Station created at V.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics SB RAS and operating in Tomsk (56.5° N, 85.0° E) is a unique atmospheric observatory. It combines up-to-date instruments for remote laser and passive sounding for the study of aerosol and cloud fields, air temperature and humidity, and ozone and gaseous components of the ozone cycles. In addition to controlling a wide range of atmospheric parameters, the observatory allows simultaneous monitoring of the atmosphere throughout the valuable altitude range 0–75 km. In this paper, the instruments and results received at the Station are described.
The paper presents a mathematical model describing the kinetics of the two-stage process of laser fragmentation of vapors of nitrocompounds and subsequent nitric oxide (NO-fragments) laser-induced fluorescence. The use of the developed model in the lidar equation for the case of fluorescent objects allows to calculate the expected value of the lidar signal for a particular nitrocompound on the basis of spectroscopic information about the object of detection, parameters of the radiation propagation medium, and transceiver equipment parameters.
The possibility of remote detection of traces of high energetic materials using laser fragmentation/laser-induced fluorescence (LF/LIF) method is studied. Experimental data on the remote visualization of traces of trinitrotoluene, hexogen, composition B, octogen, and tetryl obtained at a distance of 5 m with a scanning lidar detector of traces of high energetic materials are presented.
Influence of the vibrational-rotational Raman bands of molecules of the main components of the atmosphere (oxygen and nitrogen) on the sensitivity of Raman lidar is considered. A method is proposed of using the first overtones of the vibrational-rotational Raman bands of oxygen and nitrogen molecules as the reference signals for the measurement of low concentrations of chemicals in the atmosphere by the Raman method.
This paper presents the results of the research of possibility of remote detection of explosive traces using laser fragmentation/laser-induced fluorescence (LF/LIF) approach. Experimental data on the detection of traces of cyclonite in fingerprints at a distance of 4 m are presented.
A mathematical model of the process of the atmosphere sounding based on the Raman scattering effect in UV region of the spectrum is considered. The developed model allows to calculate an expected value of the lidar signal and optimize the characteristics of the Raman lidar using spectroscopic information about the detected object, parameters of the radiation propagation medium, and parameters of the transceiver equipment. The results of calculations of remote detection of vapors of some chemical compounds in the atmosphere using Raman lidar constructed on the basis of a KrF excimer laser are presented.
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