A white light lidar, developed by CAS Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, has

recently passed experts' test. According to a briefing, the new lidar makes space sounding

of atmospheric medium spectrum, utilizing the effects of super continuous spectrum

radiation produced by high power femtosecond laser. It has combined the strength of both

wide spectrum sensitivity of differentiated white light absorption and high space resolution

of femtosecond lidar, allowing improved atmospheric sounding with real-time spatial,

temporal, and spectrum resolutions, compared with conventional lidar. The system, though

experimental in nature, is China's first unit designed to study high power femtosecond

transmission, continuous white light mechanism, and novel approaches for atmospheric

sounding.