Echo characteristics of pulsed lasers in non-uniform smoke environments

Abstract

This work establishes a pulsed laser backscattering echo signal model based on an improved semi-analytical Monte Carlo method. The developed model is applied in non-uniform smoke environments to mitigate the smoke interference of laser fuzes for ground proximity detection. The model considers variations of the photon step size according to the concentration of the smoke environment, and the computational speed is accelerated by implementing an improved semi-analytical reception method. The proposed echo signal model is employed to investigate the effects of smoke-related parameters and laser detection system parameters on the backscattering echo waveform of smoke. Finally, the model is validated based on experiments. The results show that the intensity of the smoke backscattering echo and the emission pulse width approximately conform to a logarithmic relationship. Specifically, the echo intensity is positively correlated with the emission pulse width, and the ratio of the time between the rising edge and the falling edge of the echo signal is positively correlated with the pulse width. Meanwhile, the intensity of the smoke backscattering echo and the distance between the transmitter and receiver approximately adopt an exponential relationship. Herein, we describe the characteristics of a laser backscattering echo in a non-uniform smoke environment. The results can guide future research regarding laser fuze detection methods and strategies relevant for ground targets in smoke environments.