The Upper Atmosphere Wind Measurement Based on Doppler Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne Interferometer

Abstract

The wind detection in the upper atmosphere plays an important role in understanding the dynamics and actinochemistry, building the atmospheric dynamic model, offering the long term weather forecast and guaranteeing the development of aeronautics and astronautics. Doppler Asymmetric Spatial Heterodyne (DASH) technique is proposed to detect the wind speed in the upper atmosphere, depending on its wide field of view, large etendue, high spectrum resolution, static measurement and multiline capability. In this article the relationship between DASH optical path difference and the phase sensitivity and visibility is discussed. Then the principle prototype with large offset to detect Doppler shift of O2 A-band airglow is described. The interferometric system is simulated and designed. The system noise and temperature change of the environment is simulated and analyzed quantitatively. After that the detailed parameters of the interferometer system is designed according to the requirement. Based on the instrument an experimental system is established in the laboratory. The wind simulation detection is conducted to validate the performance of the instrument. From a group of measurements under different wind speed, a wind precision of 3 m/s is obtained. The result shows that DASH interferometer is suited for passive wind detection.