Polarization Diversity in situ Lidar for Cloud Particle Mapping

To address the Air Force need for a cloud particle mapping system capable of measuring size and distribution of particles in place, to be used for designing better lasercom systems for transmission through atmospheric layers with cloud particles, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Polarization Diversity in-situ lidar (PDI-LIDAR) system. This proposed system is based on polarization diversity coherent heterodyne detection lidar with intrinsically frequency locked optical local oscillator. The innovation in PDI-LIDAR will enable the system to be very stable and provide high sensitivity and dynamic range to map the 3D distribution of cloud particles in a nonintrusive manner with large sample volume for various types of clouds. In Phase I POC designed, analyzed, and developed the necessary key components to successfully demonstrate the concept of PDI-LIDAR with a laboratory prototype that shows more than 60 dB dynamic range for cloud particle mapping. In Phase II, POC will optimize the design of the PDI-LIDAR and implement improvements in component technologies to fabricate a compact prototype high sensitivity and high dynamic range in-situ cloud lidar to be mounted on an aerial platform for Air Force applications.