Section 1: Contact Information

Name of Student Chapter: Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Contact Person for the Activity Grant: Prof. Dr. Ignacio E. Olivares

Phone Number: +56 2 7181221

Email Address: ignacio.olivares@gmail.com

Mailing Address: Departamento de Física, Universidad de Santiago de Chile,

Avenida Ecuador 3493, Estación Central , Santiago, Chile

Section 5: Other Activities

Complete this section if you are applying for funding to support Chapter activities that do not fall within the categories provided above. If not, scroll down and click “Submit”.

Name of activity: Construction and application of a LIDAR system

Type of activity: Environmental Research

Date of proposed activity: March 2010

Location of proposed activity: Physics Department, Universidad de Santiago de Chile

List the Chapter members that will participate in the planning and implementation of this program:

Jorge Tapia                             962477            jorgetapiafarias@gmail.com

Viviana Clavería                      957559            viviana.claveria@gmail.com

Felipe Aguilar                          957362            fgiga@yahoo.es

Pablo Fredes Donoso              960793            pfredes@fisica.usach.cl

Cristian Valenzuela                  958101            valenzuelamora@gmail.com

Katherine Cortés                     962661            kattycortesu@gmail.com

Cristian Moreno                      962663            cpmorenoperez@gmail.com

Description of the activity: Limit: 100 words

Our activity consists in the construction and application of an aerosol mapping LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system. The main goal is the detection of the altitude of the inversion layer in Santiago de Chile. The LIDAR system consists in four components: emission, reception, detection and data analysis. To complete it, we need a data analysis and reception system, where an oscilloscope and acquisition card data will be the main components.

Target audience: All Santiago’s citizens

Number of expected participants: 7

Summarize the program’s planning, marketing and implementation phases (Important: include timing for each phase.): Limit: 100 words}

March 2010: Construction of telescope using a 8 inch diameter mirror. Construction of detection electronics which include a photomulitiplier.

May 2010: First tests: pulse measurements

June 2010: First measurements of the altitude of the inversion layer in Santiago. With this target we are going to measure at relevant locations in Santiago with the advice of Prof. Dr. E. Gramsch (Physics Department), which is expert on environmental issues.

July – October 2010: Outreach activities and exhibition with Schools, Universities and Government Institutions showing the results and invited them to action for the prevention of pollution in Santiago. Regular publication on our website.

What outcomes do you expect; both immediate and long term. Limit: 100 words

We expect to obtain a good estimate of the altitude of the inversion layer during year 2010. This will give additional data for a better prediction of environmental pollution events and a better understanding of pollution fenomena. We hope that the citizens in Santiago will learn about the LIDAR system, know OSA and have the opportunity to know the results. Furthermore, we expect that goverment  take consideration of our results in the change of the pollution allowed levels and in the application of the LIDAR technique as an additional method to monitor pollution.

 Please provide an itemized list of all expenses associated with this project.

If the amount requested from the OSA is less than the total estimated cost listed above, please provide a list of the other sources of funding, including the amount requested and the status of that request:

Has your Chapter participated in this event previously?

Yes

 If yes, please indicate when and briefly describe the event and results.

Our activity consisted in the construction of a Li-oven with temperatures over 300° C to obtain a lithium vapor from a cylinder made of an aluminum–lithium alloy. The laser constructed in the previous project was driven through the lithium vapor to study the absorption. We have also assembled a scanning confocal Fabry Perot interferometer to observe the laser spectrum. We made outreach activities with schools, invited Prof. Duarte as part of the OSA Traveling Lecturer program and participated in an Optics Exhibition.

Section 6: Chapter Information

Please provide the following information about your Chapter.

Chapter President/Primary Chapter: Jorge Tapia

Phone number: +56 9 88248223

Email Address: jorgetapiafarias@gmail.com

Mailing Address: Departamento de Física, Universidad de Santiago de Chile,

Avenida Ecuador 3493, Estación Central , Santiago, Chile

Chapter URL: http://fisica.usach.cl/~osa