Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules

Hajanirina Jean Emile Randrianjatovo; Hariniony Bienvenu Rakotonirina; Mariel Emie Randrianandrasana

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13

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Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules

Hajanirina Jean Emile Randrianjatovo^*

, Hariniony Bienvenu Rakotonirina

, Mariel Emie Randrianandrasana

Published in American Journal of Remote Sensing (Volume 13, Issue 2)

Received: 7 October 2025 Accepted: 20 October 2025 Published: 26 November 2025

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Abstract

The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique is one of the most effective methods for detecting atmospheric gases. It is based on the interaction between laser-emitted light and atmospheric molecules. The backscattered optical signal is converted into an electrical signal using photomultiplier tubes or other types of detectors. Two main detection approaches are commonly used: analog detection and photon-counting detection. While the analog mode is widely employed, it suffers from limited sensitivity. The photon-counting mode, although more suitable for detecting extremely weak signals, faces challenges in daytime measurements due to strong solar background noise. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the photon-counting technique to enable the DIAL system to detect extremely weak optical signals. To this end, modeling and simulation of the parameters influencing system performance have been carried out. Furthermore, the impact of using ultra-narrow band filter (UNBF) has been investigated and compared to that of conventional interference filter, with the aim of reducing background noise in daytime measurements and improving the transmission of the useful signal. The results show that the photon counting acquisition technique for a DIAL system or P-DIAL (Photon-counting DIAL) provides superior performance in terms of signal quality and measurement accuracy compared to analogue detection using an UNBF for noise limitation.

Published in	American Journal of Remote Sensing (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13
Page(s)	87-99
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

DIAL, Lidar, Detection, Noise, Photon Counting, UNBF

References

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APA Style

Randrianjatovo, H. J. E., Rakotonirina, H. B., Randrianandrasana, M. E. (2025). Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules. American Journal of Remote Sensing, 13(2), 87-99. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13

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ACS Style

Randrianjatovo, H. J. E.; Rakotonirina, H. B.; Randrianandrasana, M. E. Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules. Am. J. Remote Sens. 2025, 13(2), 87-99. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13

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AMA Style

Randrianjatovo HJE, Rakotonirina HB, Randrianandrasana ME. Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules. Am J Remote Sens. 2025;13(2):87-99. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13,
  author = {Hajanirina Jean Emile Randrianjatovo and Hariniony Bienvenu Rakotonirina and Mariel Emie Randrianandrasana},
  title = {Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules
},
  journal = {American Journal of Remote Sensing},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {87-99},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajrs.20251302.13},
  abstract = {The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique is one of the most effective methods for detecting atmospheric gases. It is based on the interaction between laser-emitted light and atmospheric molecules. The backscattered optical signal is converted into an electrical signal using photomultiplier tubes or other types of detectors. Two main detection approaches are commonly used: analog detection and photon-counting detection. While the analog mode is widely employed, it suffers from limited sensitivity. The photon-counting mode, although more suitable for detecting extremely weak signals, faces challenges in daytime measurements due to strong solar background noise. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the photon-counting technique to enable the DIAL system to detect extremely weak optical signals. To this end, modeling and simulation of the parameters influencing system performance have been carried out. Furthermore, the impact of using ultra-narrow band filter (UNBF) has been investigated and compared to that of conventional interference filter, with the aim of reducing background noise in daytime measurements and improving the transmission of the useful signal. The results show that the photon counting acquisition technique for a DIAL system or P-DIAL (Photon-counting DIAL) provides superior performance in terms of signal quality and measurement accuracy compared to analogue detection using an UNBF for noise limitation.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules

AU  - Hajanirina Jean Emile Randrianjatovo
AU  - Hariniony Bienvenu Rakotonirina
AU  - Mariel Emie Randrianandrasana
Y1  - 2025/11/26
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13
T2  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
JF  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
JO  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
SP  - 87
EP  - 99
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-580X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13
AB  - The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique is one of the most effective methods for detecting atmospheric gases. It is based on the interaction between laser-emitted light and atmospheric molecules. The backscattered optical signal is converted into an electrical signal using photomultiplier tubes or other types of detectors. Two main detection approaches are commonly used: analog detection and photon-counting detection. While the analog mode is widely employed, it suffers from limited sensitivity. The photon-counting mode, although more suitable for detecting extremely weak signals, faces challenges in daytime measurements due to strong solar background noise. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the photon-counting technique to enable the DIAL system to detect extremely weak optical signals. To this end, modeling and simulation of the parameters influencing system performance have been carried out. Furthermore, the impact of using ultra-narrow band filter (UNBF) has been investigated and compared to that of conventional interference filter, with the aim of reducing background noise in daytime measurements and improving the transmission of the useful signal. The results show that the photon counting acquisition technique for a DIAL system or P-DIAL (Photon-counting DIAL) provides superior performance in terms of signal quality and measurement accuracy compared to analogue detection using an UNBF for noise limitation.

VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Hajanirina Jean Emile Randrianjatovo

Doctoral Schools in Sciences and Engineering Techniques and Innovation, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0008-8092-5391
Hariniony Bienvenu Rakotonirina

High School Polytechnics of Antsirabe, University of Vakinankaratra, Antsirabe, Madagascar

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0004-5054-736X
Mariel Emie Randrianandrasana

High School Polytechnics of Antsirabe, University of Vakinankaratra, Antsirabe, Madagascar

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-2595-5857

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APA Style

Randrianjatovo, H. J. E., Rakotonirina, H. B., Randrianandrasana, M. E. (2025). Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules. American Journal of Remote Sensing, 13(2), 87-99. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13

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ACS Style

Randrianjatovo, H. J. E.; Rakotonirina, H. B.; Randrianandrasana, M. E. Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules. Am. J. Remote Sens. 2025, 13(2), 87-99. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13

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AMA Style

Randrianjatovo HJE, Rakotonirina HB, Randrianandrasana ME. Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules. Am J Remote Sens. 2025;13(2):87-99. doi: 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13,
  author = {Hajanirina Jean Emile Randrianjatovo and Hariniony Bienvenu Rakotonirina and Mariel Emie Randrianandrasana},
  title = {Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules
},
  journal = {American Journal of Remote Sensing},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {87-99},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajrs.20251302.13},
  abstract = {The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique is one of the most effective methods for detecting atmospheric gases. It is based on the interaction between laser-emitted light and atmospheric molecules. The backscattered optical signal is converted into an electrical signal using photomultiplier tubes or other types of detectors. Two main detection approaches are commonly used: analog detection and photon-counting detection. While the analog mode is widely employed, it suffers from limited sensitivity. The photon-counting mode, although more suitable for detecting extremely weak signals, faces challenges in daytime measurements due to strong solar background noise. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the photon-counting technique to enable the DIAL system to detect extremely weak optical signals. To this end, modeling and simulation of the parameters influencing system performance have been carried out. Furthermore, the impact of using ultra-narrow band filter (UNBF) has been investigated and compared to that of conventional interference filter, with the aim of reducing background noise in daytime measurements and improving the transmission of the useful signal. The results show that the photon counting acquisition technique for a DIAL system or P-DIAL (Photon-counting DIAL) provides superior performance in terms of signal quality and measurement accuracy compared to analogue detection using an UNBF for noise limitation.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Study and Modeling of a Photon-counting DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) System Applied to the Detection of Tropospheric Gas Molecules

AU  - Hajanirina Jean Emile Randrianjatovo
AU  - Hariniony Bienvenu Rakotonirina
AU  - Mariel Emie Randrianandrasana
Y1  - 2025/11/26
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13
T2  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
JF  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
JO  - American Journal of Remote Sensing
SP  - 87
EP  - 99
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-580X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajrs.20251302.13
AB  - The Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique is one of the most effective methods for detecting atmospheric gases. It is based on the interaction between laser-emitted light and atmospheric molecules. The backscattered optical signal is converted into an electrical signal using photomultiplier tubes or other types of detectors. Two main detection approaches are commonly used: analog detection and photon-counting detection. While the analog mode is widely employed, it suffers from limited sensitivity. The photon-counting mode, although more suitable for detecting extremely weak signals, faces challenges in daytime measurements due to strong solar background noise. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the photon-counting technique to enable the DIAL system to detect extremely weak optical signals. To this end, modeling and simulation of the parameters influencing system performance have been carried out. Furthermore, the impact of using ultra-narrow band filter (UNBF) has been investigated and compared to that of conventional interference filter, with the aim of reducing background noise in daytime measurements and improving the transmission of the useful signal. The results show that the photon counting acquisition technique for a DIAL system or P-DIAL (Photon-counting DIAL) provides superior performance in terms of signal quality and measurement accuracy compared to analogue detection using an UNBF for noise limitation.

VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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