We describe a multispectral ultraviolet (UV) fluorescence laser remote sensing system developed to detect and identify airborne pollutants. The system uses a UV laser source that is continuously tunable from 250 to 400 nm in conjunction with a database of fluorescence signatures and multivariate analysis algorithms to obtain species concentrations from multispectral UV fluorescence measurements. As presently configured, the system is designed to operate with sequentially transmitted laser wavelengths between 250 and 400 nm at a pulse repetition rate of 10 Hz and is designed to map chemical concentrations with a range resolution of approximately 1 m. We describe the optical detection, associated data acquisition and control electronics, and tunable UV laser transmitter. We also describe a unique software package used for instrument setup and control. Based on sensitivity calculations, 1 ppm-m of toluene can be detected at a range of approximately 2.0 km with a range resolution of 1 m and a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 3.

Date Published: 10 February 1995
PDF: 9 pages
Proc. SPIE 2366, Optical Instrumentation for Gas Emissions Monitoring and Atmospheric Measurements, (10 February 1995); doi: 10.1117/12.205584

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2366:
Optical Instrumentation for Gas Emissions Monitoring and Atmospheric Measurements
Michael G. Yost; Dennis K. Killinger; Joseph Leonelli; William Vaughan; Dennis K. Killinger; William Vaughan; Michael G. Yost, Editor(s)