Optical air data system

1. An optical air data system, comprising:

a. a reference beam from a first beam of light generated by a laser;

at least one second beam of light from said first beam of light, wherein said at least one second beam of light is directed into an atmosphere along an associated axis;

b. at least one telescope adapted to receive light backscattered by molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere responsive to a corresponding at least one said second beam of light;

c. a Fabry-Pérot etalon, wherein a first portion of said Fabry-Pérot etalon is adapted to receive a light signal from said light backscattered by said molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere, at least one second portion of said Fabry-Pérot etalon is adapted to receive at least one of said reference beam and at least one other light signal from said light backscattered by said molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere, said Fabry-Pérot etalon is operative to generate a first fringe pattern associated with said light signal from said light backscattered by said molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere, and said Fabry-Pérot etalon is operative to generate at least one second fringe pattern associated with said at least one of said reference beam and at least one other light signal from said light backscattered by said molecules or aerosols of said atmosphere; and

d. at least one detector, wherein said at least one detector is adapted to detect said first fringe pattern and said at least one second fringe pattern, and said at least one detector is adapted to output a corresponding resulting at least one signal.

2. An optical air data system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a collimating lens adapted to receive at least one of said light signal, said reference beam, and said at least one other light signal, and to provide for substantially collimating said at least one of said light signal, said reference beam, and said at least one other light signal into said Fabry-Pérot etalon.

3. An optical air data system as recited in claim 2 , wherein at least one of said light signal, said reference beam, and said at least one other light signal are received by said collimating lens at least one location off-axis relative to an optic axis of said collimating lens.

4. An optical air data system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising an imaging lens between said Fabry-Pérot etalon and said at least one detector, wherein said imaging lens cooperates with said Fabry-Pérot etalon so as to provide for generating said first fringe pattern and said at least one second fringe pattern.

5. An optical air data system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said Fabry-Pérot etalon comprises a solid etalon.

6. An optical air data system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said Fabry-Pérot etalon is substantially thermally insulated from a surroundings thereof.

7. An optical air data system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

a. an enclosure surrounding said Fabry-Pérot etalon;

b. at least one of a heating element, a cooling element, and a combined heating and cooling element adapted to provide for at least one of heating and cooling said enclosure relative to a surroundings thereof;

c. a temperature sensor adapted to provide for sensing a temperature of at least one of at least a portion of said Fabry-Pérot etalon and at least a portion of said enclosure; and

d. a temperature controller adapted to control said at least one of said heating element, said cooling element and said combined heating and cooling element so as to maintain a temperature measured by said temperature sensor about a set-point temperature.

8. An optical air data system as recited in claim 7 , wherein said set-point temperature is within fifteen degrees Celsius above a nominal temperature of said surroundings of said enclosure.

9. An optical air data system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said light received by said at least one telescope is backscattered either by said molecules of said atmosphere or by said aerosols of said atmosphere, or said light received by said at least one telescope is backscattered by both said molecules and said aerosols of said atmosphere.