Rapid and precise absolute distance measurements at long range
The ability to determine absolute distance to an object is one of the most basic measurements of remote sensing. High-precision ranging has important applications in both large-scale manufacturing and in future tight formation-flying satellite missions, where rapid and precise measurements of absolu...
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Published in | Nature photonics Vol. 3; no. 6; pp. 351 - 356 |
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Main Authors | , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London
Nature Publishing Group UK
01.06.2009
Nature Publishing Group |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | The ability to determine absolute distance to an object is one of the most basic measurements of remote sensing. High-precision ranging has important applications in both large-scale manufacturing and in future tight formation-flying satellite missions, where rapid and precise measurements of absolute distance are critical for maintaining the relative pointing and position of the individual satellites. Using two coherent broadband fibre-laser frequency comb sources, we demonstrate a coherent laser ranging system that combines the advantages of time-of-flight and interferometric approaches to provide absolute distance measurements, simultaneously from multiple reflectors, and at low power. The pulse time-of-flight yields a precision of 3 µm with an ambiguity range of 1.5 m in 200 µs. Through the optical carrier phase, the precision is improved to better than 5 nm at 60 ms, and through the radio-frequency phase the ambiguity range is extended to 30 km, potentially providing 2 parts in 10
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ranging at long distances.
Using two coherent broadband fibre-laser frequency comb sources, a coherent laser ranging system for absolute distance measurements is demonstrated. Its combination of precision, speed and long range may prove particularly useful for space-based sciences. |
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ISSN: | 1749-4885 1749-4893 |
DOI: | 10.1038/nphoton.2009.94 |