NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
TerraHertz Free Electron Laser Applications for Satellite Remote SensingThe development of a Free Electron Laser (EL) operating in the terahertz frequency regime by the group at the University of Hawaii (Elias et al.) represents a significant new opportunity in the area of atmospheric remote sensing. The FEL has 2 salient features that create a unique opportunity. First of all it represents the only source in this frequency range with sufficient power to enable lidar instrumentation. Secondly its very high electrical efficiency (several times more efficient than any currently employed spaceborne laser) renders it a strong candidate for use in satellite remote sensing. On the negative side the atmosphere is rather strongly absorbing throughout this frequency range due primarily to the water vapor continuum absorption. This means that the instruments using this laser will not be able to access the lower troposphere because of its very high water concentration.. However the instrument will be very capable of measurements in the upper troposphere and stratosphere. A passive instrument, the Microwave Limb Sounder on the UARS satellite operated by Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has already demonstrated that this wavelength region can be used for chemical species with strong emission lines. A lidar would complement the capabilities of this instrument by providing the capability to measure absorbing species in the upper atmosphere. I will discuss the design of such an instrument in greater detail and estimate its performance in measuring a number of chemical species of interest to the Earth Science community.
Document ID
20040016314
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Heaps, William S.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2003
Subject Category
Lasers And Masers
Meeting Information
Meeting: Workshop on TerraHertz Applications of the Hawaii Free Electron Laser
Location: HI
Country: United States
Start Date: January 16, 2004
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available