A polarization lidar system capable of remotely identifying
characteristics of atmospheric aerosol particles by transmitting a
polarized beam of light and analyzing polarization characteristics of
received backscatter is disclosed. The transmitter features high pulse
energy to remotely identify aerosol particles with substantially one
pulse. The transmitter employs a thin film plate polarizer and a Raman
wavelength shifter to achieve eye-safe, single-plane linearly polarized
energy. The transmit beam and receiver field of view are coaxial. The
receiver employs a telescope, a collimating lens, and a beam splitter.
The beam splitter splits the received backscatter into a single-plane
polarized beam whose polarization plane is parallel to the plane of
transmission and a single-plane polarized beam whose polarization plane
is perpendicular to the plane of transmission. Each split beam is
directed through separate focusing lenses onto separate detectors. The
detector signals are amplified and processed to remotely determine
atmospheric aerosol particle characteristics.