Model studies of laser absorption computed tomography for remote air pollution measurement

Laser absorption computed tomography offers the possibility of sensitive remote atmospheric measurements of pollutants over kilometer sized areas with 2-D resolution at modest laser source powers. We present detailed model studies which demonstrate the potential of this new remote sensing technique. The tomographic reconstruction process is studied as a function of measurement signal to noise, laser power, range, and system geometry. The analysis shows that the proposed system is capable of providing 2-D maps of pollutant concentration at ranges and resolutions superior to that attainable from contemporary direct detection laser radars.