Developement an InGaAs Detecto-Amplfier Applied to Atmospheric Remote Sensing

The InGaAs PIN photodiodes are widely used in spectrometric and medical equipment. However, it is not widespread its use for atmospheric remote sensing phenomena studies. In the present work we shows the development and construction of a detector-amplifier based on an InGaAs PIN photodiode, with high gain (110dB), low bandwidth (10MHz) and low distortion. Such device is the detection unit used for a backscatter LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) operating in 1064 nm. The PIN photodiode responsivity was characterized for the specific wavelength (1064 nm), as well as its juncture capacitance for the bandwidth of device. The independently characterization of amplifier (gain and bandwidth) without sensor, let us improve its performances. These characterizations allowed obtain a detector-amplifier system with a remarkable performance for remote sensing applications. Finally, we present the preliminary results obtained with a backscatter LIDAR, where we shows the measurements of cirrus clouds observations with altitude between 8 and 12 kilometers.