New method of elaboration of the lidar signal

In lidar measurements noise and fluctuations strongly affect the results. The reason is a rapid decrease of the signal-to-noise ratio with an increase of distance. The differential absorption lidar (DIAL) is particularly sensitive to the signal instabilities. In this paper we present a method of the signal acquisition that is suitable for registration of both large light fluxes and single photons. We also present new method of solution of the DIAL equations. Compared to the traditional algorithm used for signal elaboration our procedures are much more stable and they are able to increase the effective range of lidar measurements.