[OPTICAL REVIEW Vol. 5, No. 5 (1998) 310-314]
A Pseudo-Random Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave Coherent Lidar Using an Optical Field Correlation Detection Method
Kimio ASAKA, Yoshihito HIRANO, Kenji TATSUMI, Kumio KASAHARA and Toru TAJIME
Information Technology R&D Center, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Ofuna, 5-1-1, Kamakura, Kanagawa, 247-8501 Japan
(Received May 22, 1998; Accepted June 30, 1998)
We propose a new detection method for a pseudo-random frequency modulation continuous wave (RM-CW) coherent lidar. The feature of this method is modulation of local beam with a time delayed pseudo-random sequence. Heterodyne detection and correlation detection between the received beam and the local beam are simultaneously carried out in an optical field. In the RM-CW coherent lidar using the optical field correlation detection method, the received equipment is greatly simplified. We carried out preliminary experiments and demonstrated that the new method is effective for detection of a CW coherent lidar.
Key words : lidar, CW lidar, coherent detection, remote sensing, light modulation, pseudo-random modulation