A Laser Radar for Atmospheric Studies

Abstract This paper describes equipment designed to observe variations in atmospheric density at heights up to 65 km by measuring the intensity of light back-scattered from a laser beam. The basic theory of the technique is briefly described, and an expression is derived for the sensitivity of the laser radar. The design of the equipment is then discussed from the point of view of optimization of the equipmental parameters for maximum sensitivity, with a view to obtaining measurements at the greatest possible height. The paper continues with a description of the actual equipment, a discussion of problems encountered in its application, and the methods used to overcome these problems. Finally, a very brief description is given of the results obtained with the laser radar.