Long-range micro-pulse aerosol lidar at 1.5 um with an up-conversion single-photon detector

TL;DR

This paper presents a micro-pulse lidar system operating at 1.5 μm using an up-conversion single-photon detector, achieving long-range atmospheric monitoring with high sensitivity and daytime capability.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel eye-safe micro-pulse lidar with an ultralow noise detector, enabling long-range atmospheric measurements and continuous visibility monitoring.

Findings

Achieved 7 km horizontal detection range.

Successfully monitored atmospheric visibility over 24 hours.

Demonstrated effective daytime atmospheric backscattering detection.

Abstract

A micro-pulse lidar at eye-safe wavelength is constructed based on an up-conversion single-photon detector. The ultralow noise detector enables using integration technique to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the atmospheric backscattering even at daytime. With the pulse energy of 110uJ, the pulse repetition rate of 15 kHz, the optical antenna diameter of 100 mm and integration time of 5 minutes, a horizontal detection range of 7 km is realized. In the demonstration experiment, atmospheric visibility over 24 hours is monitored continuously, with results in accordance with the weather forecasts.