The receiving system of a dual dye LIDAR to study molecular and aerosol densities at the base of the stratosphere

The operating principles and design of an optical receiver for a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) remote sensing instrument are addressed. The performance and limitations of a biaxial monostatic LIDAR system utilizing this design are investigated.;The complete optical and structural design of the receiver, including specifications of components are outlined. The thermal stabilization of the detector assembly and the integration of control electronics are described. A detailed discussion of alignment procedures and possible improvements are made. A sample observation is presented with suggestions for fully automating the system.