Abstract
Atmospheric remote sensing by lidar frequently requires an accurate measurement of the mean intensity of the laser backscattered radiation. In the case of infrared coherent lidars, the return signal is characterized by rapid and deep fluctuations resulting from the interference of the fields backscattered to the lidar from moving, randomly located aerosol particles. The contrast ratio corresponding to the ratio of the standard deviation of the fluctuations of this signal to its mean value is unity if the mean signal is large compared to the signal shot noise.
© 1987 Optical Society of America
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