Polarization Lidar for Detecting Dust Orientation

Abstract

We present the preliminary design of a polarization lidar system for detecting oriented dust particles. The system emits linearly- and circularly-polarized light from two lasers and detects the backscattered light, using two telescopes. The emitted light by each laser is detected from both telescopes alternatively, providing in this way two times the signals recorded by a conventional system. The system has also the capability of performing measurements at different zenith angles. Its detection strategy is based on scattering calculations for mixtures of oriented and randomly-oriented dust particles in different atmospheric scenarios.