Expand this Topic clickable element to expand a topic
Skip to content
Optica Publishing Group

Nonlinear resonant absorption effects on the design of resonance fluorescence lidars and laser guide stars

Not Accessible

Your library or personal account may give you access

Abstract

Saturation effects may significantly reduce the backscattered signal expected for resonance fluorescence lidar systems. Saturation arises when the laser energy density within the layer is large enough to significantly alter the population densities of the atomic states within the layer. These altered state populations lead to nonlinear absorption of the laser energy resulting in reduced rate of fluorescence and increased rate of stimulated emission. The level of saturation is determined by the laser pulse length, pulse energy, beam-width, and linewidth. Analysis reveals that the saturation effects can be characterized by two parameters: the saturation time τs and the rms laser linewidth Δωrms. The saturation time is the characteristic time of stimulated emission and is an indication of the level of saturation. The saturation time depends on pulse energy, pulse length, and beamwidth. The laser linewidth is important since it determines the effective absorption cross section of the atoms and also the percentage of atoms illuminated for an inhomogeneously broadened absorption line. The impact of saturation on lidar design is also examined. Design examples, including lidar systems for atmospheric research and laser guide stars for adaptive imaging applications in astronomy are studied in detail.

© 1989 Optical Society of America

Full Article  |  PDF Article
More Like This
Shuttle lidar resonance fluorescence investigations. 1: Analysis of Na and K measurements

Shoou-Dyi Yeh and Edward V. Browell
Appl. Opt. 21(13) 2365-2372 (1982)

Bistatic imaging lidar technique for upper atmospheric studies

Byron M. Welsh and Chester S. Gardner
Appl. Opt. 28(1) 82-88 (1989)

Atmospheric atomic mercury monitoring using differential absorption lidar techniques

Hans Edner, Gregory W. Faris, Anders Sunesson, and Sune Svanberg
Appl. Opt. 28(5) 921-930 (1989)

Cited By

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Figures (14)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Tables (5)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article tables are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Equations (68)

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Equations are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an Optica member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Login to access Optica Member Subscription

Select as filters


Select Topics Cancel
© Copyright 2024 | Optica Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved