Development of lidar for remote methane sensing using an optimal configuration of high-power laser diodes

Abstract

Abstract A broadband differential absorption lidar (DIAL) is developed making us of the properties of high-power pulsed laser diodes for the purpose of monitoring methane, a major atmospheric greenhouse biogas. The detection range is optimized for the CH4 Q-branch 2v3 overtone spectrum centered at 1.667 μm and mixed with water-vapor absorption bands of. The resonance absorption evaluated of the DIAL signal is an integral sum of the multiple CH4 resonance absorption lines modulating the characteristic broad laser line and simultaneously compensating the interfering water-vapor absorption. A compact DIAL scheme is developed using an optimal configuration of high-power laser diodes matching the selected spectral parameters.