Design Concepts for An Advanced Airborne Meteorological Lidar (LASE II)

Abstract

The use of differential absorption lidar (DIAL) instruments in high altitude aircraft platforms for mesoscale meteorological applications dictates requirements on the instrument systems which approximate or approach spacecraft platform requirements. Unattended automated operation, power, mass, volume, and data rate may be constrained to some extent. The ability to utilize such a platform provides a good opportunity to demonstrate technology developments which will enhance the possibility of developing spaceborne lidar atmospheric sounders. This paper describes the investigation of techniques to increase alexandrite laser efficiency and frequency stability, and the use of Fabry-Perot etalons in a double narrow-passband receiver filter.