Polarization Diversity in situ Lidar for Cloud Particle Mapping

To address the Air Force need for a cloud particle mapping system capable of measuring 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 implemented in a lidar. The key innovation in PDI-LIDAR, the use of intrinsically frequency-locking of optical local oscillator, will enable the system to overcome the limited sensitivity, FOV, dynamic range, laser power of current direct detection methods. Compact and power efficient, the PDI-LIDAR can be deployed on UAVs or balloons, to non-intrusively map the 3D distribution of cloud particles with large sample volumes for various types of clouds. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of PDI-LIDAR by designing, modeling, and assembling a laboratory prototype for cloud particle mapping. In Phase II POC plans to fabricate and demonstrate a prototype high sensitivity and high-dynamic-range in situ cloud lidar for cloud particle mapping to Air Force personnel.