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Effects of C(2)(n) on a vertically pointing diffraction-limited lidar.
Applied Optics
|June 10, 2010
Summary
Ground-based lidar systems can measure atmospheric refractive index structure parameter (C2(n)) profiles. These measurements are crucial for predicting optical propagation phenomena and can be determined by analyzing lidar image radius profiles.
Area of Science:
- Atmospheric optics
- Remote sensing
- Optical engineering
Background:
- Atmospheric refractive index structure parameter (C2(n)) influences optical propagation.
- Accurate C2(n) profiles are essential for predicting phenomena like scintillation and beam wander.
- Lidar systems offer a potential method for profiling C2(n) with altitude.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the performance of a diffraction-limited lidar system for measuring C2(n) profiles.
- To determine the relationship between lidar image radius profiles and C2(n) variations.
- To assess the feasibility of using ground-based lidar for atmospheric optical turbulence profiling.
Main Methods:
- Simulated lidar performance using different C2(n) profiles.
- Calculated lidar image radius profiles based on varying C2(n) data.
- Analyzed the sensitivity of image radius to C2(n) changes.
- Estimated signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirements for practical measurements.
Main Results:
- Different C2(n) profiles result in significantly different lidar image radius profiles.
- Lidar image radius profiles can effectively indicate the strength and altitude dependence of C2(n).
- A 0.5 m aperture lidar with ~1-J pulses can yield useful data up to 20 km altitude during daytime.
- The sensitivity of image radius to C2(n) is relatively constant with altitude.
Conclusions:
- Ground-based lidar is a viable tool for measuring C2(n) profiles.
- Analysis of lidar image radius profiles provides insights into atmospheric optical turbulence.
- System parameters like aperture size and transmitted energy are critical for achieving desired measurement altitudes.
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