Lidar/DIAL detection of acetone at 3.3 μm by a tunable OPO laser system

In this paper we report, for the first time to our knowledge, on lidar/ DIALdetection of acetonevapors at 3.3 μm by means of an optical parametric tunable lasersystem. After a preliminary spectroscopic study in an absorption cell, the feasibility of a differential absorption ( DIAL) lidarfor the detection of acetonevapors has been investigated in the laboratory, simulating the experimental conditions of a field campaign. Having in mind measurements in a real scenario, a study of possible atmospheric intereferents has been performed, looking for all known compounds that share acetoneIR absorption in the spectral bandselected for its detection. Possible interfering species from urban and industrial atmospheres were investigated and limits of acetonedetection in both environments were identified. This study confirmed that a lidarsystem can detect a low concentration of acetoneat considerable distances.