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Title: Broadband Laser Ranging: Signal Analysis and Interpretation

Conference · · Proceedings Volume 10089, Real-time Measurements, Rogue Phenomena, and Single-Shot Applications II
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2255679· OSTI ID:1507010
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  1. Nevada National Security Site, National Security Technologies, LLC
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  3. Los Alamos National Laboratory

Broadband laser ranging (BLR) is essentially a spectral interferometer used to infer distance to a moving target. The light source is a mode-locked fiber laser, and chromatic dispersion maps the spectral interference pattern into the time domain, yielding chirped beat signals at the detector. A BLR record is a sequence of these chirped signals, representing consecutive target positions. To infer distance to a target, each underlying pulse envelope must be consistently registered and subtracted despite environmentally-induced variability. Then, nonlinear transformation of the phase is applied to remove the chirp, an FFT is performed to determine the peak frequency of the de-chirped signal, and a calibration factor relating de-chirped frequency to distance results in target position. This article discusses these analysis steps are in detail.

Research Organization:
Nevada National Security Site, National Security Technologies, LLC
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-NA0003624
OSTI ID:
1507010
Report Number(s):
DOE/NV/25946-3101
Journal Information:
Proceedings Volume 10089, Real-time Measurements, Rogue Phenomena, and Single-Shot Applications II, Vol. 10089, Issue 0G; Conference: SPIE Photonics West Conference, San Francisco, California, January 28 - February 2, 2017
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (3)

Ultrafast and Doppler-free femtosecond
optical ranging based on dispersive
frequency-modulated interferometry journal January 2010
Simultaneous broadband laser ranging and photonic Doppler velocimetry for dynamic compression experiments journal February 2015
Compact system for high-speed velocimetry using heterodyne techniques journal August 2006