Remote detection of aluminum and trace methane using mobile femtosecond laser system of T&T Lab

Author

Kamali, Y. ; Daigle, J.-F. ; Simard, P.T. ; Théberge, F. ; Châteauneuf, M. ; Xu, H.L. ; Azarm, A. ; Chen, Y. ; Marceau, C. ; Sun, Z.-D. ; Bernhardt, J. ; Lessard, S.C. ; Lessard, F. ; Roy, G. ; Dubois, J. ; Chin, S.L.

Author_Institution

Center for Opt., Photonics & Laser (COPL), Laval Univ., Quebec City, QC, Canada

fYear

2009

fDate

2-4 June 2009

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

2

Abstract

We report two remote sensing experiments of aluminum in the winter time and trace methane in the summer time using the mobile femtosecond laser facility T&T (Terawatt & Terahertz) designed by the Defence R&D Canada-Valcartier (DRDC-Valcartier). This system is similar in many respects to Teramobile, the Franco-German laser system. In the first experiment, we demonstrated the feasibility of remote filament-induced breakdown spectroscopy of aluminum targets in an open field in the winter season of Quebec-city when the outside temperature was as low as -20degC. The fluorescence signals are detected in a LIDAR configuration with aluminum target located up to 60 meters. In the second experiment in the summer season, we remotely detected trace methane in the open field during daytime (with strong sun light) up to 20 meters.

Keywords

aluminium; fluorescence; gas sensors; high-speed optical techniques; optical radar; organic compounds; remote sensing by laser beam; Al; Defence R&D Canada-Valcartier; Franco-German laser system; LIDAR configuration; T&T laser facility; Teramobile; aluminum targets; femtosecond laser system; fluorescence; mobile laser system; remote detection; remote filament-induced breakdown spectroscopy; remote sensing; trace methane; Aluminum; Electric breakdown; Fluorescence; Laser radar; Optical design; Remote sensing; Signal detection; Spectroscopy; Sun; Temperature; (010.0280) Remote sensing and sensors; (020.2649) Strong field laser physics;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2009 and 2009 Conference on Quantum electronics and Laser Science Conference. CLEO/QELS 2009. Conference on

Conference_Location

Baltimore, MD

Print_ISBN

978-1-55752-869-8

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-55752-869-8

Type

conf

Filename

5226058