Short-range high spectral resolution lidar: a proof-of-concept for aerosol characterization near the source

Atmospheric High Spectral Resolution Lidars (HSRLs) are unable to perform measurements close to the emission source because, apart from being blind in the first hundredths of meters (overlap problem), their spatiotemporal resolution is insufficient since they use low repetition rate and ultranarrow band (and thus long-pulse) lasers. In this work, we present the proof-of-concept of a compact short-range HSRL (SR-HSRL), closing the gap of aerosol characterization in the short-range. The system and laser were characterized, and the right balance between spectral performance (laser linewidth) and range resolution (pulse duration) was found. Then, the SR-HSRL concept was tested, measuring water droplets under controlled conditions. We demonstrate that it is feasible to implement the HSRL technique in the short range to characterize aerosols near the source without making assumptions.