Multi-wavelength multi-angular lidar for aerosol characterization

A multi-wavelength, multi-static lidar has been designed and is being tested for the characterization of atmospheric aerosols. This design builds upon multi-static lidar, multiple scattering analyses, and supercontinuum DIAL experiments that have previously been developed at Penn State University. Scattering measurements at two polarizations are recorded over a range of angles using CCD imagers. Measurements are made using three discrete visible wavelength lasers as the lidar sources, or using a supercontinuum source with a wavelength range spanning the visible and near-IR wavelengths. The polarization ratios of the scattering phase functions are calculated for multiple wavelengths to analyze and determine the aerosol properties of artificially generated fog.