Télémètre à détection coherente avec un laser CO2 à ondes entretenues : étude et conception

Abstract

We performed a theoretical and experimental study of a 10.6 μm heterodyne detection system with nonlinear postdetection. A single laser serves as both transmitter and local oscillator; the intermediate frequency is given by the Doppler effect due to a rotating target. An electrooptic crystal modulates the amplitude of the laser beam at a frequency of 15 kHz; a synchronous voltmeter measures the return signal after the nonlinear element. Values of the signal-to-noise ratio with respect to incident optical power agree with the results of the theoretical model. In particular, experimentally measured target-induced frequency spreading effects on the signal-to-noise ratio correspond to the predictions of the model. We also describe an experimental system.