Abstract

LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) systems are the optical analogy of a Radar system. Laser beams are used as the light source with various methods of detecting the back- scattered beam used. These systems are being increasingly used as means of gaining understanding of the earth’s environment. For example, ground based LIDAR systems have been used for the past 20 years pointing the laser beam vertically to determine the chemical composition, the temperature structure, and the winds in the atmosphere above 20 km. These systems tend to occupy a considerable amount of space and consume many watts of power.

© 2001 Optical Society of America