Development of an Eyesafe Micropulse Lidar at Agnes Scott College for Atmospheric Science Research

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Through this Major Research Instrumentation award, physicists at Agnes Scott College, in collaboration with electrical engineers at Georgia Institute of Technology, are developing a lidar system (Light Detection and Ranging) for atmospheric research. Students will construct the instrument under the supervision of faculty members from Agnes Scott and Georgia Tech, and will operate it routinely over a period of several years. The objective is to provide hands-on experience for undergraduates, in particular undergraduate women, in state-of-the-art equipment design and research. Scientific applications include measuring the optical properties of clouds, studying the vertical structure and variability of the stratospheric aerosol layer, and monitoring low-level haze and pollution over the site of the instrument in Atlanta. The lidar is based on a diode-pumped solid state laser. It produces visible (green) light and is eye-safe even at close range. It is of a simple design, appropriate for an undergraduate teaching environment. Though the research application is atmospheric science, the experience of designing and constructing the instrument will familiarize the students with elements of engineering, data processing, and optical remote sensing.