AM-CW Integrated Path Differential Absorption Lidar, Phase I

Aside from the many possible commercial spin-off applications of a high sensitivity lidar receiver, successful demonstration of this IPDA Lidar will place CAI in a position to provide additional support services in technology enhancement and potentially in a position to participate in the integration of this capability into NASA's ASCENDS program for space platform earth science missions. Applications for this sensor include the measurement of methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), which together with CO2 are recognized as the most important greenhouse gases. Concentrations of these gases increase rapidly through human activities, thus a space-borne IPDA Lidar is ideal to better predict the behavior of the climate system and to help constrain political conventions on greenhouse gas avoidance, a more accurate knowledge of the sources and sinks of these gases in terms of location, magnitude, and variability on a global basis. The potential for non NASA commercialization includes our proprietary waveform modulation technique which can be applied to many different lidar and radar technologies. Applications, include wind measurement, imaging, target tracking, and chemical detection to name a few. More »