Optimization of Mach-Zehnder interferometer of high-spectral-resolution lidar for large-scale wind measurement

Abstract

The optimization design of a quadri-channel Mach–Zehnder interferometer (QMZI) of the high-spectral-resolution lidar is presented for the large-scale wind measurement. The optimized QMZI can discriminate the Doppler frequency shift generated by atmospheric wind from aerosol Mie scattering echo signals and molecular Rayleigh scattering echo signals, and then the wind information can be retrieved. The optimal optical path differences (OPDs) of QMZI are determined by theoretical and simulation analysis. The wind measurement simulation experiments prove that the designed QMZI can measure the large-scale wind with an accuracy of meter level.