A laser beacon for monitoring the mesospheric sodium layer at La Palma

A laser beacon for monitoring the mesospheric sodium layer at La Palma

We report the results of the first laser beacon experiment at the astronomical site of La Palma (Canary Islands). A continuous wave low-power laser (a few hundred mW) system has been set up. The laser, tuned on the sodium D2 line at 589 nm, is launched close to the zenith angle. The emission of the...

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Veröffentlicht in:Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 2000-10, Vol.318 (1), p.139-144
Hauptverfasser: Michaille, L., Cañas, A. D., Dainty, J. C., Maxwell, J., Gregory, T., Quartel, J. C., Reavell, F. C., Wilson, R. W., Wooder, N. J.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
Schlagworte:
atmospheric effects
atomic processes
scattering
site testing
telescopes
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Zusammenfassung:We report the results of the first laser beacon experiment at the astronomical site of La Palma (Canary Islands). A continuous wave low-power laser (a few hundred mW) system has been set up. The laser, tuned on the sodium D2 line at 589 nm, is launched close to the zenith angle. The emission of the mesospheric sodium layer is observed from a telescope located 160 m away from the laser. The layer is therefore resolved in altitude and the different features of its dynamics are investigated.
ISSN:0035-8711
1365-2966
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2000.03699.x