Prospects for coherent lidar systems and technology development

Abstract

A coherent lidar is a powerful technique for remote measurements of velocity fields, and at middle infrared wavelengths it also has advantages compared with direct-detection lidar in extended range measurement of atmospheric species. These qualities are obtained at the cost of additional complexity and more stringent requirements on the coherence properties of the lasers which are used. An attempt is made to summarize the technological requirements of certain coherent lidar applications and discuss relevant technology development, emphasizing the CO2 and solid-state laser components.