Ultra-fast coherent optical system for active remote sensing applications

Shubhashish Datta; Don Becker; Abhay Joshi; Roy Howard

doi:10.1117/12.778481

13 May 2008 Ultra-fast coherent optical system for active remote sensing applications

Shubhashish Datta, Don Becker, Abhay Joshi, Roy Howard

Proceedings Volume 6950, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIII; 695008 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.778481
Event: SPIE Defense and Security Symposium, 2008, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Active optical remote sensing has numerous applications including battlefield target recognition and tracking, atmospheric monitoring, structural monitoring, collision avoidance systems, and terrestrial mapping. The maximum propagation distance in LIDAR sensors is limited by the signal attenuation. Sensor range could be improved by increasing the transmitted pulse energy, at the expense of reduced resolution and information bandwidth. Coherent detection can operate at low optical power levels without sacrificing sensor bandwidth. Utilizing a high power LO laser to increase the receiver gain, coherent systems provide shot noise-limited gain thereby increasing the sensing range. To fully exploit high LO powers without incurring performance penalties due to the RIN of the LO, high power handling balanced photodiodes are used. The coherent system has superior dynamic range, bandwidth, and noise performance than small-signal APD-based systems. Coherent detection is a linear process that is sensitive to the amplitude, phase and polarization of the received signal. Therefore, Doppler shifts and vibration signatures can be easily recovered. RF adaptive filtering following photodetection enables channel equalization, atmospheric turbulence compensation, and efficient background light filtering. We demonstrate a coherent optical transmission system using 15mA high power handling balanced photodetectors. This system has an IF linewidth <1Hz, employing a proprietary phase locked loop design. Data is presented for 100ps pulsed transmission. We have demonstrated amplitude and phase modulated 10Gb/s communication links with sensitivities of 132 and 72 photons per bit respectively. Investigations into system performance in the presence of laboratory induced atmospheric turbulence are shown.

Citation Download Citation

Shubhashish Datta, Don Becker, Abhay Joshi, and Roy Howard "Ultra-fast coherent optical system for active remote sensing applications", Proc. SPIE 6950, Laser Radar Technology and Applications XIII, 695008 (13 May 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.778481

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