title: Optimal heterodyne detector array size for 1-microm coherent lidar propagation through atmospheric turbulence.
abstract: The heterodyne detection efficiency for a 1-microm coherent atmospheric backscatter lidar was numerically calculated using a Monte Carlo technique which included a simple model for the effects of atmospheric turbulence. The results show that the heterodyne detection efficiency of a single-element detector is severely reduced by the effects of atmospheric turbulence, but that the use of an appropriate sized, multiple-element heterodyne detector array can overcome these effects. In addition, the statistical fluctuation (signal-to-noise ratio) of the lidar signal was also calculated and showed that the use of a heterodyne detector array can increase the accuracy to that for direct detection.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Killinger