Nonlinear optics of the stratosphere and laser chemistry of ozone

Abstract

The use of laser methods has greatly expanded the possibilities of atmospheric optics [I, 2]. Lasers operating in a wide range of frequencies (from far IR to UV) are presently used, to create optical links and for location [3, 4], to actively affect the optical characteristics of the atmosphere, to study the structure of the atmosphere [i, 2] and, in particular, to investigate the ozonosphere [5-26]. Since the probing laser radiation can be quite powerful, it can induce changes in the properties and state of the air medium, which in its turn will lead to nonlinear distortions of laser beams and errors in obtaining information along the optical channel. The investigation of such processes is the problem of nonlinear optics of the atmosphere.