Abstract: The probability distribution function for the mixing scatter ratio is derived and used to model variations in total backscatter coefficient and extinction profiles in the visible and the near IR. The profiles, based on 25 years of lower stratospheric aerosol measurements, are used to estimate signal-to-noise ratio, laser-pulse energy, and wavefront measurement error with respect to backscatter strength, guidestar pulse length and altitude, and read noise. The results show that for a given wavefront error, (1) visible guidestars require less pulse energy for aerosol concentrations near background where molecular backscatter dominates, and (2) for high aerosol loading following a major volcanic event, a NIR guidestar requires a lower pulse energy than for visible wavelength sensing. !23
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