New research tool or just an idea?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a recently published Chinese article that proposes a new LIDAR technique for atmospheric sensing based on the Scheimpflug principle. Participants express skepticism about the validity and practicality of the claims made in the article, particularly regarding the ability to detect aerosols using this method. The conversation includes inquiries about the technical aspects of the proposed system and comparisons to existing atmospheric research techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the feasibility of the proposed LIDAR system's ability to see aerosols, expressing confusion about the application of the Scheimpflug principle in this context.
  • Another participant shares personal experience with atmospheric research conducted using high-powered lasers, suggesting that existing methods may be more established than the new proposal.
  • Concerns are raised about the lack of detailed information in the article, with one participant noting that the paper only contains what is available on Wikipedia.
  • A participant mentions the cost of accessing the paper and expresses disappointment over the lack of additional content beyond the abstract.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express skepticism about the new LIDAR technique and its claims, with no consensus reached on its validity or advantages over existing methods. Multiple competing views regarding the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed system remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in the information provided by the original article, including the absence of detailed methodology and results. Participants also reference historical atmospheric research practices without establishing a direct comparison to the new technique.

pyroartist
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Recently a Chinese article was published that claims a new LIDAR technique for atmospheric sensing. The article only consists of the Abstract with no further information. It is very brief which makes me suspect this is someones pipe dream. A link to the article is given below. The "new" concept is explained in the following sentence: "The implication of the Scheimpflug principle is that when a laser beam is transmitted into the atmosphere, the backscattering echo of the entire illuminating probe volume is still in focus simultaneously without diminishing the aperture as long as the object plane, image plane and the lens plane intersect with each other". He then goes on to claim "...continuous wave light sources such as diode lasers can be employed for remote sensing instead of using complicated nano second pulsed light sources.The SLidar system is also a robust and inexpensive system based on compact laser diodes and array detectors."
If there is anyone out there who could explain how this system is capable of seeing aerosols by illuminating an area of the atmosphere and taking images with a detector array? I am not a physicist but I fail to see how aligning the lens in the methodr of the Scheimpflug principle will make this work. Thanks for any insight on this.
Wikipedia has more info on the basic principle here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheimpflug_principleMei, Liang. "Remote sensing of atmospheric aerosol and gas using scheimpflug lidar based on diode lasers". Progress in Electromagnetic Research Symposium (PIERS). ISBN 978-1-5090-6094-8.
 
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Do you have a direct link to the paper? The current link just sends me to wikipedia.
 
pyroartist said:
If there is anyone out there who could explain how this system is capable of seeing aerosols by illuminating an area of the atmosphere and taking images with a detector array? I am not a physicist but I fail to see how aligning the lens in the methodr of the Scheimpflug principle will make this work. Thanks for any insight on this.

I personally don't know if using this "Scheimpflug principle" method has any significant advantages over the existing atmospheric research using lasers
It was around 30 years ago when I visited a short term NOAA installation at Lauder in the central South Island of New Zealand. The Lauder atmospheric research centre is/was ( I am not sure of it's current activities 30 yrs later) one of New Zealand's main places for atmospheric studies. I was given a full tour of the US equipment where they fired 30W lasers of different types vertically up into the atmosphere to measure compounds present in the air column. This was at a time when the growing size of the Ozone Hole was of great concern.

Round trip reflection times and spectroscopic analysis of the reflected laser beams yielded information of the composition of the atmosphere at different levels up to approximately 50 km

looks like the station is still very active
https://www.niwa.co.nz/atmosphere/facilities/lauder-atmospheric-research-stationDave
 
Drakkith; The paper itself costs $35 from IEEE and it contains nothing more than what you see on Wikipedia. I got a refund!
Dave, Thanks for that link. I will contact them.
 
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