AM-CW Integrated Path Differential Absorption Lidar

This proposal addresses NASA's science objectives with innovative lidar architecture for atmospheric CO2 measurements. Specifically, the proposed work can support and potentially enhance the Active Sensing of CO2 Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons (ASCENDS) technologies. Using an active laser measurement technique, our system is designed to enhance the capabilities of CO2 remote sensing from high-latitude regions and nighttime observations with sensitivity in the lower atmosphere, and enable investigations of the climate-sensitive southern ocean and permafrost regions, provide insight into the diurnal cycle and plant respiration processes, and provide useful new constraints to global carbon cycle models.

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.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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