Individual Particle Scattering and Single-burst Digital Correlation for Remote Atmospheric Wind Measurements

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Abstract
Remote measurements of atmospheric winds by scattering from natural aerosols with a low-power continuous-wave laser have been impressively demonstrated in recent years. Much of the success may be attributed to the use of photon counting in connection with digital correlation techniques and to the realization of the concept which probes individual dust particles. The techniques and requirements for single-burst digital correlation measurements are distinctly different from those of the usual correlation experiment in which the statistical average over an appreciable period of times is taken. These unique differences, as well as the natures of single- and multiple-particle scattering, are discussed. Together with experimental results, this paper presents the unique characteristics of single-burst digital correlation and the methods for applying them to atmospheric wind-speed measurements.