Characterization of the WAVE-LARS Polarization Lidar Transmitter and Receiver
Document ID: 94
Master's Thesis
The Pennsylvania State University
The Graduate School
Department of Electrical Engineering
Abstract
The characterization of the lidar transmitter and receiver portion of the WAVE-LARS (Water, Aerosol, Vapor Experiment-Lidar and Radar Sounder) research instrument is presented. The WAVE-LARS instrument objectives are to deduce aerosol size distributions, determine cloud thermodynamic phases, provide information on aerosol distribution, and describe optical propagation conditions in the lower atmosphere. These goals are accomplished by using a scanning three wavelength Rayleigh/Raman lidar which also determines the depolarization ratio.
The characterization of the lidar transmitter and receiver is critical in understanding the system performance. The transmitter stability, polarization, efficiency, and energy are examined to determine how each will effect the return backscattered signal. The receiver optical setup has been modeled to determine where each wavelength enters completely into the telescope's field of view. The receiver elements, including the telescope, polarization divider box, and optical fibers, are reviewed and the instrument efficiency is discussed. Preliminary data taken with the system is presented in the final chapter. In addition, the plans for future work with the system are discussed.
| Citation: | G. R. Evanisko, "Characterization of the WAVE-LARS Polarization Lidar Transmitter and Receiver", The Pennsylvania State University, Master's Thesis, December 1994, 70 pages |