A STUDY OF OPTICAL RADAR DETECTION.
Abstract
A theoretical and experimental study of optical energy detection shows that the optimal pulsed radar receiver, in the sense that detection probability is maximized for a given false-alarm probability and signal level, is one whose resolution time is equal to or greater than the transmitter pulse duration. This will be true for any likely statistical distributions of noise and signal energy. The statistics of photoelectron multiplication were obtained for a typical multiplier phototube by a combination of measurement and calculation. These were used to show that the 'ideal photoelectron counter' is usually, but not always, the best detector for pulsed optical radar. Exceptions at lower noise levels and/or relatively high false-alarm probabilities are due to the comparative inflexibility of threshold control of the photoelectron counter. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 15, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0700094
Entities
People
- Sumner Ackerman