Ti:Sapphire-laser-based resonance-scattering lidar system for simultaneous observation of Ca and Ca⁺ layers appearing in the upper atmosphere

^(a) Graduate School of Informatics and Engineering, University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan
^(b) National Institute of Polar Research, 10-3 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
^(c) The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI 10-3 Midoricho, Tachikawa, Tokyo 190-8518, Japan
^(d) Institute for Advanced Science, University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1 Chofugaoka, Chofu, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan

^* Lead Author e-mail address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 9 April 2026

Abstract

Meteoric atoms and ions are among the remarkable tracers to investigate a variety of dynamics appearing in the mesosphere and thermosphere at altitudes ranging from 80 to 150 km. Here, we report on a solid-laser-based lidar system, namely dual-wavelength injection-locked nanosecond-pulsed Ti:sapphire lidar, that can simultaneously detect resonance scatterings by meteoric calcium atom (Ca) and ion (Ca⁺) layers. We operated the lidar system and conducted a benchmark test in which Ca or Ca⁺ was observed independently as a first step. We found that the lidar system was operated stably over an entire night, having the ability to detect either Ca or Ca⁺ with a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio in addition to high temporal and spatial resolutions. In our presentation, we also report on a typical demonstration of the lidar system, namely the observation of Ca and Ca⁺ over an entire night.