NOVEL CO:MGF2 LIDAR FOR AEROSOL PROFILER

THE PROPOSED PROGRAM INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BREADBOARD EYE-SAFE CONTINUOUSLY TUNABLE CO:MGF2 LIDAR MEASUREMENTS OF VERTICAL CONCENTRATION PROFILES OF THE ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL. THE LIDAR WILL UTILIZE A NEW AND UNIQUE, ROOM TEMPERATURE, EYE-SAFE CO:MGF2 LASER COMMERCIALLY SOLD BY SCHWARTZ ELECTRO-OPTICS (SEO). THIS EFFICIENT, SOLID STATE LASER IS BASED UPON A PROPRIATARY CO:MGF2 CRYSTAL DEVELOPED BY SEO AND IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY TUNABLE, ROOM TEMPERATURE CO:MGF2 LASER ON THE MARKET. PRIOR WORK AT LINCOLN LABORATORY BY SEO'S CONSULTANT PROF. DENNIS KILLINGER AND SEO'S VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH DR. PETER MOULTON SHOWED THE PROMISE OF CO:MGF2 LASER FOR REMOTE SENSING. THE PROPOSED SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE VERTICAL CONCENTRATION PROFILE OF THE ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL. THE SYSTEM CAN BE ALSO USED FOR ATMOSPHERIC REMOTE SENSING OF WATER VAPOR, HC1, CH4, AND NO2. A DIFFERENTIAL-ABSORBTION LIDAR (DIAL) SYSTEM WILL BE ASSEMBLED USING A CONTINUOUSLY TUNABLE CO:MGF2 LASER, STEERING OPTICS, A COMPACT RECEIVING TELESCOPE, A COOLED INSB DETECTOR, A COMPUTER TO RECORD THE DIAL SIGNALS AND CONTROL AND MONITOR THE LASER WAVELENGTH. THIS BREADBOARD DIAL SYSTEM WILL BE USED FOR OBTAINING VERTICAL CONCENTRATION PROFILE OF THE ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL.