Coherent CO2 DIAL laser remote sensing of toxic and hazardous gases

Abstract

The MAPM, an acronym for Mobile Atmospheric Pollutant Mapping System, is a CO 2 DIAL lidar using heterodyne detection. The MAPM is distinguished from previous CO 2 DIAL lidar systems in that it employs a pair of CO 2 lasers with PRFs up to 150 Hz which should increase the measurement accuracy and reduce the measurement time required. The MAPM is mounted in a semitrailer and has a scan mirror above the roof. We discuss the system design, as well as results of demonstration measurements on organic solvents in a sample chamber and system performance characteristics, with an emphasis on factors limiting performance such as speckle, aerosol spectral properties, and interfering molecular species.