Temperature stability requirements of free-running Nd:YAG lasers for atmospheric temperature profiling through the rotational Raman technique

The Raman lidar technique to measure atmospheric temperature profiles is based on the dependence on temperature of the intensity of the atmospheric N₂ and O₂ rotational Raman lines [1]. The technique requires very good stability of the laser wavelength, or frequent recalibrations, to avoid errors in the retrieved temperature produced by wavelength drifts.  Frequency doubled or tripled Nd:YAG lasers are usually employed to implement this technique. To achieve laser wavelength stability, injection-seeded lasers are used that transfer the wavelength stability of the seeder to the high-power laser [2]; this has also the consequence of narrowing the spectrum of the transmitted radiation. Temperature profiling using free-running lasers are also reported in the literature [3]. In this case wavelength stability must be obtained by keeping the laser operating conditions, and in particular the Nd:YAG rod temperature, very stable.

We have assessed the effects on the atmospheric temperature retrieval of the spectral width and temperature-induced wavelength drift of the 3^rd harmonic of a free-running Nd:YAG laser. We have found that the spectral width has a negligible effect, as compared with the negligible spectral width of an injection-seeded laser, in the receiving filters that are part of the lidar. However, slight temperature-induced drifts on the central wavelength of the laser emitted spectrum entail small changes in the filter responses that impair the calibration and cause an uncertainty in the retrieved atmosphere temperature. We have estimated that to keep the retrieved temperature uncertainty below 1 K, the rod temperature must also to be kept within a ±1 K range. This is also the temperature stability that would be needed in the seeder of an injection seeded laser, as changes of temperature in the seeder will also cause wavelength drifts, hence uncontrolled biases in the atmosphere temperature measurements that would add to their uncertainty.   

[1] J. Cooney, Measurement of Atmospheric Temperature Profiles by Raman Backscatter, J Appl Meteorol Climatol. 11 (1972) 108–112. https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1972)011<0108:MOATPB>2.0.CO;2

[2] E. Hammann, A. Behrendt, F. Le Mounier, V. Wulfmeyer, Temperature profiling of the atmospheric boundary layer with rotational Raman lidar during the HD(CP)2 Observational Prototype Experiment, Atmos Chem Phys. 15 (2015) 2867–2881. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-2867-2015.

[3] P. Di Girolamo, R. Marchese, D.N. Whiteman, B.B. Demoz, Rotational Raman Lidar measurements of atmospheric temperature in the UV, Geophys Res Lett. 31 (2004) 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL018342.