A Compact, Eye-Safe Lidar Based on Optical Parametric Oscillators for Remote Aerosol Sensing

A compact, high-sensitivity, eye-safe lidar system has been developed using an efficient KTP optical parametric oscillator (OPO) at the wavelength of 1.57 μm. Mie scattering intensities and depolarization ratios were detected for two-dimensional mapping of distribution of aerosol concentrations by rapid laser beam scanning. The system is useful and practical for sensing urban and industrial atmosphere.