New Raman-shifed sources for ozone DIAL applications

Raman converters with new active media, H2/D2 mixtures and pure N2 have been proposed and realized. In such media three wavelengths suitable for ozone DIAL measurements can be produced simultaneously and coaxially. The sensitivity and the systematic errors in DIAL measurements due to aerosol and absorbing gas influence for different wavelength pairs are compared. The wavelengths produced in the N2 converter show better sensitivity and are less affected by aerosol and interfering gas influences. Efficient conversion in H2/D2 mixtures and in pure N2 is demonstrated. Differential absorption lidars working in the UV have been proven to be a powerful and reliable tool for measurements of ozone concentrations and their time evolution in the troposphere and stratosphere. The accuracy of these measurements is largely determined by the parameters of the lidar transmitter two of which are of great importance: the proper values of the ON and OFF wavelengths, and the way they probe the atmosphere. The UV ozone DIAL operate