Diode Laser-based Sensor System for Long-Path Absorption Measurements of Atmospheric Concentration and Near-IR Molecular Spectral Parameters.

Abstract

Line-locked near-IR diode lasers and a simple retroreflector/telescope system were used for remote sensing of atmospheric constituents over long atmospheric paths. Figure 1 shows the experimental configuration used in preliminary measurements of atmospheric water vapor and oxygen with AlGaAs diode lasers. A prototype field sensor system currently under development shares the same basic configuration but incorporates interchangeable AlGaAs and InGaAsP diode-laser modules for monitoring a variety of atmospheric gases.