McManamon P., Buell W. (Eds.) Laser Radar: Progress and Opportunities in Active Electro-Optical Sensing

The National Academies Press, Washington, 2014, 311 pages, ISBN: 0309302161 9780309302166This book considers the potential of active EO technologies to create surprise; i.e., systems that use a source of visible or infrared light to interrogate a target in combination with sensitive detectors and processors to analyze the returned light.This report evaluates the fundamental, physical limits to active EO sensor technologies with potential military utility; identifies key technologies that may help overcome the impediments within a 5-10 year timeframe; considers the pros and cons of implementing each existing or emerging technology; and evaluates the potential uses of active EO sensing technologies, including 3D mapping and multi-discriminate laser radar technologies.Applications
Report Scope and Committee Approach
Structure of This Report
Concluding ThoughtsActive electro-optical sensing approaches
Range Measurement Techniques
Laser Range Finders
One-Dimensional Range Profile Imaging Ladar
Two-Dimensional Active/Gated Imaging
Three-Dimensional Direct-Detection Active Imaging
Active Polarimetry
Underwater Sensing
Vibration Sensing
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Aerosol Sensing
Differential Absorption Lidar
Raman Sensing
Laser-Induced Fluorescence
Wind Sensing
Commercial Laser/Ladar ProductsEmerging electro-optical technologies
Multiwavelength Ladar
Temporal Heterodyne Detection: Strong Local Oscillator
Temporal Heterodyne Detection: Weak Local Oscillator
Synthetic-Aperture Ladar
Digital Holography/Spatial Heterodyne
Multiple Input, Multiple Output Active Electro-Optical Sensing
Speckle Imaging
Ladar Using Femtosecond Sources
Advanced Quantum Approaches
General Conclusions—Emerging SystemsActive electro-optical component technologies
Laser Sources for Imaging
Nonlinear-Optics-Based Sources
Detectors/Receivers
Framing Cameras
Remote Ultra-Low-Light Imaging
Graphene
Quantum Dot Infrared Detectors
Optical Antennas
Beam Steering and Stabilization
Thermal Management
Telescopes
Adaptive Optics
Processing, Exploitation, and DisseminationFundamental limits of active electro-optical sensing
Illumination Sources
Detectors
Signal Processing
Propagation Effects
Concluding Thoughts and Overarching Conclusion and RecommendationAppendixes
Committee Biographies
Meetings and Participating Organizations
Laser Sources and Their Fundamental and Engineering Limits